Wasabi Fenway Bowl point spread: Picking SMU Mustangs vs Boston College Eagles
The Fenway Bowl is back, pitting a future ACC school against a current one as the SMU Mustangs take on the Boston College Eagles.
The Mustangs are currently a 10-point favorite over the Eagles, according to DraftKings. Meanwhile, the over/under point total is set at 48 points. SMU is also big favorites on the money line at -375 while Boston College is +295.
How to watch SMU vs. Boston College
Time: 11 a.m. ET, Dec. 28
Channel: ESPN, FuboTV
Location: Boston, MA
SMU had an excellent season and after winning the AAC, felt that it had a good case to make it to the New Year’s Six. However, that didn’t happen, with the Group of Five bid going to Liberty instead. Because of that, it will be interesting to follow the mentality of the Mustangs in the Fenway Bowl. Are they frustrated with where they are or are they trying to prove a point?
Ralph Russo, college football writer for the Associated Press, certainly believes that could be a factor, he shared with On3’s Andy Staples when the two picked their winner for the game beforehand.
“SMU was ticked off about being sent to this game,” Russo said. “They thought they deserved New Year’s Six. So are they ticked off being in a baseball stadium on Dec. 28? Or are they like ‘What are we doing in a baseball stadium?'”
However, Russo doesn’t want those sort of storylines to swing his pick.
“I’m gonna go SMU, because again, I kind of just want to boil it down to: I know this is the better team,” Russo continued. “I can’t get into the psycho-cymatics and the ‘How are they gonna show up and are they gonna be motivated?’ I’ll just take the better team.'”
Andy Staples was with Russo step-for-step on that prediction, noting that the Mustang offense behind QB Preston Stone could be too much for BC to handle defensively.
“I am with you here. This time I will agree with you. I think you’re right about this one,” Staples said. “I go back, watched all of Boston College’s season finale vs. Miami. If SMU is clicking, Boston College is going to struggle to stop them.”
The two college football gurus do have a soft spot for Eagle quarterback Thomas Castellanos, though, who is the primary reason for BC made it to a bowl to begin with.
“Thomas Castellanos is a trip, man,” said Russo.
“He’s fuuuuun,” Staples chimed in. “He’s a wild player who does a lot of wild things. He makes some great plays. I mean, he basically is Boston College’s offense.”
Staples pointed out evidence of that claim, that “he leads them in passing and rushing, if that helps.”
It should be a tremendous battle between quarterbacks, if nothing else, as Andy Staples and Ralph Russo both see the Mustangs taking care of business, even if they don’t really want to be in this particular matchup.