Week 1: Boston College at Kent State

Boston College likely will defeat Kent State in the season opener for both teams, but it won’t be because the Golden Flashes were taken by surprise. Kent State coach Doug Martin and Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski were assistants together at East Carolina under Steve Logan, who now is BC’s offensive coordinator.

So Martin and Jagodzinski know each other well — on and off the field.

“I am the reason he is married to Lisa at this moment,” Martin said of Jagodzinski, who last year led BC to its first 11-win season since 1940. “He tried everything he could to screw it up, and I just wouldn’t let him. He owes me that much, anyway.”

Jagodzinski can repay Martin with a warm pregame handshake, but it’s all business after that. With Logan’s fingerprints all over each team’s offense, Boston College and Kent State run many of the same plays and use the same terminology.

The difference between them, of course, is in their overall depth and talent. The Eagles are coming off an 11-3 season in which they won the ACC Atlantic Division championship and secured their eighth consecutive bowl victory. Kent State, meanwhile, went 3-9 and won just one Mid-American Conference game in 2007.

The Golden Flashes welcome back their offensive stalwart, junior tailback Eugene Jarvis, but the Eagles must replace star quarterback Matt Ryan and their top rusher. True freshman Josh Haden, who enrolled early and took part in spring practice, has the task of replacing the 1,689 yards that Andre Callender gained from scrimmage last season.

Notes/Things to Watch:

This is the first meeting between the schools.

Boston College enters the season having posted back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history.

Boston College junior Jeff Smith, who feared that his career was over after he suffered a couple of concussions last season, is ready to play. He is one of BC’s fastest players and will serve as a complement to Haden in addition to maintaining duties on kick returns.

Jarvis is the nation’s leading returning rusher, having gained 1,669 yards on the ground last season. He rushed for at least 100 yards in nine games in 2007.

Key Player (Eagles) — Chris Crane, QB

Crane has huge shoes to fill as he attempts to replace Ryan under center for the Eagles. The 6-4 Crane is a redshirt senior, but Jagodzinski has referred to him as “a fifth-year freshman” because he has thrown just 36 passes in game action during his college career.

Key Player (Golden Flashes) — Eugene Jarvis, RB

One way for Kent State to keep this game competitive is to keep possessions alive with successful runs from Jarvis, but that won’t be an easy task. Boston College ranked No. 2 in the country against the run last season and returns most of its key defensive linemen and linebackers.

Boston College by 17