2009 Emerald Bowl Boston College vs. USC Start Time, TV Guide & Odds
San Francisco, CA – Boston College has become a veteran of late-December bowls, making the Emerald Bowl an unsurprising destination for the Eagles.
The shocking part will be their opponent.
Southern California's disappointing finish dropped the Trojans out of the BCS for the first time since 2001, with a Dec. 26 trip to San Francisco and a matchup with BC serving as their consolation.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SPORTSBETTING.com have made USC -9 point spread favorites (View College Football odds) for the Saturday, Dec. 26 game (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 64% of bets for this game have been placed on USC -9 (View College Football bet percentages).
USC won at least 11 games and a share of the Pac-10 title each of the last seven years, finishing all of those seasons in the Rose Bowl or the Orange Bowl. The Trojans (8-4), though, were unable to continue those trends in 2009.
The departure of quarterback Mark Sanchez for the NFL made freshman Matt Barkley the starter, and the 19-year-old led the Pac-10 with 12 interceptions. The Trojans also dealt with inconsistency on defense, allowing more than 35 points three times after having done so twice prior to this season since coach Pete Carroll was hired in 2001.
USC was 6-1 and ranked fourth in late October, but lost three of its final five games and fell out of the Top 25 for the first time since the end of the 2001 season.
"It just feels so different," Carroll said. "It's so different than what we've done over our career. We've tried to find our way and battled. It just hasn't ever really kicked in like we would have liked it to have done."
The Trojans' tumble began with a 47-20 loss at then-No. 10 Oregon on Oct. 31 in which they allowed 391 rushing yards, and Stanford racked up 325 more in a 55-21 win at USC on Nov. 14.
After losing once at home from 2002-08, the Trojans fell for the second time in three home games in their Dec. 5 finale, 21-17 to Arizona.
"It's tough to swallow, it is," wide receiver Damian Williams said. "I'd be lying if I said this was expected. It was just a growing experience. Every single person on this team has learned a lesson."
Barkley learned a number of tough lessons as he struggled at times to adjust to the college game. He averaged 169.0 passing yards in the last five contests and threw at least one interception in eight straight games.
The Trojans will play in a non-BCS bowl for the first time since Carroll's first season, but they will still be favored to beat BC.
The Eagles (8-4) were inconsistent in their first season under coach Frank Spaziani, but reached a bowl for the 11th straight year despite being picked to finish last in the ACC's Atlantic Division in the league's preseason poll.
All 10 of BC's bowls during the streak took place from Dec. 25-31, including a win over Colorado State in the 2003 Emerald Bowl, then known as the Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl.
The team won eight straight bowl games before a 16-14 loss to Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl last year. Despite its underdog status, the Eagles will be grateful to face a high-profile opponent like USC.
"I think it's good for our program. It's interesting, and I think it's good," Spaziani said. "Whenever you play somebody like that, it gets everybody's attention."
Losses to Clemson, Virginia Tech and North Carolina derailed the Eagles' bid to reach the ACC title game for the third straight season. Shaky quarterback play was one of the major issues, as freshman Dave Shinskie completed 52.8 percent of his passes - last in the conference - and threw 13 interceptions along with 14 touchdowns.
The 25-year-old Shinskie played minor league baseball for six years before joining the Eagles, who had no quarterbacks with college experience on their roster at the start of the season.
BC has leaned heavily on sophomore running back Montel Harris, who set school records with 264 rushing yards and five touchdowns in a 52-20 win over North Carolina State on Oct. 17.
Harris totaled 561 yards in the last four games, getting a career-high 41 carries in a 19-17 win at Maryland to close the regular season Nov. 28. He has run for 1,355 yards and 13 TDs this year.
"What we accomplished, from where we started and what we have - and I don't mean that by talent - all the potholes, all the situations, all the things we had to overcome, it was a testament to the kids and they should be very proud of what they did," Spaziani said.
Perhaps the Eagles' toughest task was playing without linebacker Mark Herzlich, the ACC defensive player of the year in 2008. Herzlich has been battling bone cancer but is hoping to return next season.
USC swept the only two meetings with BC in 1987 and '88. The teams are scheduled for another home-and-home series in 2013 and '14.
2009 Emerald Bowl
Teams: Boston College vs. USC
Kickoff: Dec. 26, 2009, 8PM ET
Venue: AT&T Park
TV: ESPN
Odds:
Boston College +9 Over 45 (+280)
USC -9 Under 45 (-360)
Bet The
NCAA Football: Emerald Bowl
1/2* USC Trojans -7 -105 over BC 8:05 EST
Here is one of 2 bowl plays for us today, and I hope everyone has an awesome holiday weekend........
Hook
2009 Emerald Bowl Boston College vs. USC Picks & Predictions
USC looks to have a positive ending to a negative season on Saturday when it meets Boston College in the 2009 Emerald Bowl at 8PM ET from AT&T Park.
USC is 8-4 on the season and 3-9 against the spread. The Trojans lost two of their last three to end the season and have failed to cover in six of their last seven games.
Boston College is 8-4 on the year and 6-5 against the spread. The Eagles won three of their last four to end the regular season, but have failed to cover in their last three.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sports Interaction have made USC 9-point favorites over Boston College on Saturday night. The over/under total for this game has been established at 45.
USC has not been its typical self on offense, scoring just 26.7 points per-game while racking up only 385 yards per-game. Quarterback Matt Barkley has struggled in his freshman season, throwing for 2,385 yards and 13 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. Joe McKnight has rushed for 1,014 yards and eight scores, but was caught up in NCAA violation questions leading up to this game for driving someone else’s SUV around campus. The Eagles have a stout defense, holding opponents to only 19.4 points and 318.4 yards per-game this season. BC has been especially tough against the run, allowing just 1,253 yards in 12 games.
Boston College is scoring 25.8 points per-game on offense. Montel Harris has been the work horse on offense, rushing for 1,355 yards and 13 touchdowns. David Shinskie has struggled at quarterback, throwing for 1,823 yards with 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The Trojans have still been strong on defense, holding opponents to 20.4 points and 342.8 yards per-game. USC has struggled against power running attacks like Oregon and Stanford.
This is a tough game to pick because the game will be played close to USC. One could expect the Trojans to take out a year of frustrations, while others could see the Eagles physically beating the Trojans up at the line. We think that this game favors the Eagles as they have a steady running attack and play a physical style of football that the Trojans have struggled with. Look for Boston College to slow down the USC running game and leave it up to Barkley to make the plays with his arm, which he will be unable to do. Trends also favor Boston College in this game as USC has struggled against the spread all year and in the month of December in past seasons.
Our Emerald Bowl Free Pick for this matchup is: BOSTON COLLEGE +9 and OVER 45.
College Football Bowl Season Betting Trends
USC is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) in road games in December games since 1992.
Boston College is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston College's last 5 games
Southern Cal is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games
Southern Cal is 18-4 SU in its last 22 games
Bowl Season College Football Injury Report
BOSTON COLLEGE
[DE] 12/17/2009 - Alex Albright "?" vs. USC in the Emerald Bowl ( Ankle )
[RB] 12/17/2009 - Rolandan Finch "?" vs. USC in the Emerald Bowl ( Mononucleosis )
[DT] 12/17/2009 - Kaleb Ramsey "?" vs. USC in the Emerald Bowl ( Ankle )
USC
[CB] 12/17/2009 - Shareece Wright is upgraded to probable Saturday vs. Boston College ( Academics )
[RB] 10/13/2009 - Marc Tyler out for season ( Toe )
[DL] 10/02/2009 - Hebron Fanqupo out for season ( Leg )
[RB] 09/29/2009 - Stafon Johnson out for season ( Throat )
[DE] 10/02/2009 - Marshall Jones out for season ( Neck )
[TE] 12/22/2009 - Blake Ayles is downgraded to doubtful vs Boston College in the Emerald Bowl. ( Ankle )
[WR] 12/20/2009 - Garrett Green is upgraded to probable Saturday vs. Boston College ( ACL )
[WR] 12/14/2009 - David Ausberry "?" vs Boston College in the Emerald Bowl. ( Leg )
[CB] 12/14/2009 - Josh Pinkard expected to miss vs Boston College in the Emerald Bowl. ( Knee )
[RB] 12/24/2009 - Joe McKnight is upgraded to probable Saturday vs. Boston College ( Not Suspended )
[TE] 12/21/2009 - Anthony McCoy expected to miss Saturday vs. Boston College ( Academics )
[DT] 12/21/2009 - Averell Spicer expected to miss Saturday vs. Boston College ( Academics )
[RT] 12/21/2009 - Tyron Smith expected to miss Saturday vs. Boston College ( Academics )
Emerald Bowl Odds
Boston College Eagles +9 Over 45 (+280)
USC Trojans -9 Under 45 (-360)