Boston College Athletics
Photo by: John Quackenbos
Identical Opponents Beckon in Old School Matchup
December 18, 2017 | Football, #ForBoston Files
Boston College and Iowa are virtually identical in their football DNA
In the college football universe, Boston College and Iowa are on two different ends of the cultural spectrum. BC is a northeastern school situated in one of the most congested and dense regions in the country in Boston, while Iowa is a mid-western, heartland school situated in the sprawling city of Iowa City. Massachusetts is known for seafood and the ocean, while Iowa boasts some of the most historic agricultural farmlands in the nation.
When the two teams meet on December 27 in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, it'll be the first time they ever play each other. But far removed from the geographical differences, buried deep within the game's DNA and genetic code, are two teams virtually identical to one another.
"This is a good football team," BC head coach Steve Addazio said. "(Iowa is a) well-coached team. They're going to play hard. It's going to be a physical game. I think both teams are fundamentally sound. Both teams are going to play with a physical edge and mentality and will make for a heck of a game down in New York in Yankee Stadium."
The similarities intersect in every aspect of the teams' respective seasons. Both survived brutally tough schedules to qualify for a bowl game with signature victories. BC won five of its last six games, and the winning streak included a blowout over a preseason national championship contender in Florida State. Iowa's 55-24 win over Ohio State effectively cost the Buckeyes a chance at the College Football Playoff. Iowa finished third in its division behind ranked teams (Wisconsin and Northwestern), one of which is in the New Year's Six. Boston College likewise finished behind Clemson and NC State, with the former advancing to the College Football Playoff.
The two offenses average between 26-28 points per game. They both use ball control to do it, averaging identical 30:15 of possession per game. Pointed rushing attacks are built around efficient passing units. Both offensive lines are steam-engine trains built by raw horsepower, with Iowa's recognized by Addazio as "one of the best I've ever seen playing."
"They run a lot of under-center stuff, so getting up the field and recognizing their play-action passes is going to be a huge part of our game," linebacker Ty Schwab said. "They run a lot of (play action pass) and they run the ball a lot. So deciphering the two, reading our keys and getting upfield D-linemen and getting our drops - we're going to have to have a lot of coverage sacks and get to the quarterback as fast as we can and just cover."
The offenses are capable of rolling through any team's defense, but both the Eagles and Hawkeyes bring defenses capable of stopping any team's offense to New York. Neither team allows many points, with BC's 22.5 points per game within a plus/minus uncertainty of Iowa's 19.9 points per game.
Iowa's sack numbers are better than Boston College - by a margin of approximately 0.3. Boston College is better at tackles for losses - by a margin of approximately 0.7. Both teams are solid in situational football, including red zone defenses and third down efficiency within 2%-5% of one another.
Then there's the secondaries. Boston College has 18 interceptions this year. Iowa has 19. Both are ranked in the top five nationally.
"They've got a regular quarter structure," wide receiver Charlie Callinan said. It's their base. They play that very well. They have a couple of checks, very little pressures. But when they do man up, they do a good job. They like to break on routes quick, which has helped them with a lot of their interceptions this year. They've jumped a lot of the short routes."
The Pinstripe Bowl isn't the flashiest matchup in the bowl season, but it's arguably one of the best "football games" available. It's the game in its purest form between two teams who will go at each other. Both teams are capable of posting points, but the defenses are good enough to hold everyone in check.
"They've got some good players," Callinan said. "They know what they're doing. They don't make a lot of mistakes. We think it's going to be a really technique game. It's going to be mano-a-mano, we know what they're doing. They probably have a good idea on what we're doing. Whoever has the best techniques is going to win."
New York City is a flashy kind of city, but it's built by toughness and grit. Its lights stretch for miles, and Broadway's brightness beckons. But its soul rumbles beneath the city like the 4 train heading to the Bronx. This is the kind of game that can tap into that soul, an old-school matchup that will play out in the cold outdoors of Christmastime. It's a throwback to a different era, the kind that can echo old Yankee Stadium and the days long gone by.
"Whoever plays toughest is going to win," Callinan continued. "They've got a great team. We respect them. We hold them in high regard. But we're not going to sit back and play scared or anything. We're going to go at them pretty good, so it's going to be a lot of fun."
The New Era Pinstripe Bowl will be played on December 27 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Kickoff is set for 5:20 p.m. and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and ESPN Radio. The game can also be heard via the Boston College IMG Network, locally broadcast on WEEI 850 AM.
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When the two teams meet on December 27 in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, it'll be the first time they ever play each other. But far removed from the geographical differences, buried deep within the game's DNA and genetic code, are two teams virtually identical to one another.
"This is a good football team," BC head coach Steve Addazio said. "(Iowa is a) well-coached team. They're going to play hard. It's going to be a physical game. I think both teams are fundamentally sound. Both teams are going to play with a physical edge and mentality and will make for a heck of a game down in New York in Yankee Stadium."
The similarities intersect in every aspect of the teams' respective seasons. Both survived brutally tough schedules to qualify for a bowl game with signature victories. BC won five of its last six games, and the winning streak included a blowout over a preseason national championship contender in Florida State. Iowa's 55-24 win over Ohio State effectively cost the Buckeyes a chance at the College Football Playoff. Iowa finished third in its division behind ranked teams (Wisconsin and Northwestern), one of which is in the New Year's Six. Boston College likewise finished behind Clemson and NC State, with the former advancing to the College Football Playoff.
The two offenses average between 26-28 points per game. They both use ball control to do it, averaging identical 30:15 of possession per game. Pointed rushing attacks are built around efficient passing units. Both offensive lines are steam-engine trains built by raw horsepower, with Iowa's recognized by Addazio as "one of the best I've ever seen playing."
"They run a lot of under-center stuff, so getting up the field and recognizing their play-action passes is going to be a huge part of our game," linebacker Ty Schwab said. "They run a lot of (play action pass) and they run the ball a lot. So deciphering the two, reading our keys and getting upfield D-linemen and getting our drops - we're going to have to have a lot of coverage sacks and get to the quarterback as fast as we can and just cover."
The offenses are capable of rolling through any team's defense, but both the Eagles and Hawkeyes bring defenses capable of stopping any team's offense to New York. Neither team allows many points, with BC's 22.5 points per game within a plus/minus uncertainty of Iowa's 19.9 points per game.
Iowa's sack numbers are better than Boston College - by a margin of approximately 0.3. Boston College is better at tackles for losses - by a margin of approximately 0.7. Both teams are solid in situational football, including red zone defenses and third down efficiency within 2%-5% of one another.
Then there's the secondaries. Boston College has 18 interceptions this year. Iowa has 19. Both are ranked in the top five nationally.
"They've got a regular quarter structure," wide receiver Charlie Callinan said. It's their base. They play that very well. They have a couple of checks, very little pressures. But when they do man up, they do a good job. They like to break on routes quick, which has helped them with a lot of their interceptions this year. They've jumped a lot of the short routes."
The Pinstripe Bowl isn't the flashiest matchup in the bowl season, but it's arguably one of the best "football games" available. It's the game in its purest form between two teams who will go at each other. Both teams are capable of posting points, but the defenses are good enough to hold everyone in check.
"They've got some good players," Callinan said. "They know what they're doing. They don't make a lot of mistakes. We think it's going to be a really technique game. It's going to be mano-a-mano, we know what they're doing. They probably have a good idea on what we're doing. Whoever has the best techniques is going to win."
New York City is a flashy kind of city, but it's built by toughness and grit. Its lights stretch for miles, and Broadway's brightness beckons. But its soul rumbles beneath the city like the 4 train heading to the Bronx. This is the kind of game that can tap into that soul, an old-school matchup that will play out in the cold outdoors of Christmastime. It's a throwback to a different era, the kind that can echo old Yankee Stadium and the days long gone by.
"Whoever plays toughest is going to win," Callinan continued. "They've got a great team. We respect them. We hold them in high regard. But we're not going to sit back and play scared or anything. We're going to go at them pretty good, so it's going to be a lot of fun."
The New Era Pinstripe Bowl will be played on December 27 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Kickoff is set for 5:20 p.m. and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and ESPN Radio. The game can also be heard via the Boston College IMG Network, locally broadcast on WEEI 850 AM.
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