Week 6: Boston College at N.C. State

O’Brien Bowl II kicks off with both teams unsure about their quarterback situations. Tom O’Brien, in his second season at N.C. State after leaving Boston College as the winningest coach in program history, is sure that he wants Russell Wilson under center. But Wilson, who missed the Wolfpack’s 41-10 loss to South Florida last week because of a shoulder injury, might not be able to play. Boston College, meanwhile, continues to give redshirt freshman Dominique Davis more snaps in place of inconsistent senior Chris Crane.

Crane and Davis inspire little fear with their throwing ability — BC ranks 110th nationally in passing yards (128.0 per game) — but their supporting cast makes up for that shortcoming. Boston College can afford to run the ball with three capable tailbacks — Montel Harris, Josh Haden and Jeff Smith — and rely on its defense to force turnovers and get good field position.

The Eagles, who blanked Rhode Island 42-0 last week for their second shutout victory of the season, are second in the country in takeaways (15) and points allowed (6.5 per game). Boston College also leads the nation in pass efficiency defense and is fourth in passing yards allowed (137.5 per game).

That makes BC a tough matchup for N.C. State, which used three starting quarterbacks in its first five games. The Wolfpack ranks among the nation’s bottom 10 teams in scoring (16.6 points per game), rushing (89.0 ypg) and total offense (280.0 ypg). Making matters worse this week, starting left tackle Julian Williams likely will miss the game after getting hurt against South Florida.

If Wilson also can’t play, that leaves turnover machine Harrison Beck as N.C. State’s starting quarterback. Beck has a strong arm, but he completed just 9 of 32 passes for 239 yards and three interceptions against the Bulls last week. And when Beck started in N.C. State’s seven-turnover fiasco against Boston College last season, he threw five interceptions and lost a fumble.

Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski won’t allow his quarterbacks to make that many mistakes — not with the way his team is running the ball. The Eagles threw just nine passes last week against Rhode Island, and they’ll stick with the run again if N.C. State can’t stop them.

Harris, who enters this week third in the ACC in rushing (92.0 ypg) after running for 143 yards and three touchdowns against Rhode Island, has been especially effective. He is the first BC true freshman to record back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since Shelby Gamble in 1979.

Notes/Things to Watch:

Boston College leads the all-time series 3-2, including a 37-17 home victory last season in O’Brien’s first matchup against his former team.

Having recruited most of the players on BC’s roster, O’Brien has great knowledge of the Eagles’ personnel. N.C. State wasn’t able to benefit from that wisdom in last year’s meeting because of turnover woes, but this game could be a different story.

In the absence of emerging star Nate Irving, who missed last week’s game with an ankle injury, South Florida exploited true freshman linebacker Dwayne Maddox’s inexperience. If Irving (out indefinitely) is unable to play this week, the Eagles will do the same thing.

Despite injuries all around him, N.C. State tailback Andre Brown quietly is having a productive senior season. Brown has rushed for a team-best 320 yards and three touchdowns, and he has caught 12 passes for 180 yards and a TD.

Reflective of the discipline that O’Brien wants to instill at N.C. State, the Eagles don’t beat themselves. Boston College is second nationally in turnover margin, fourth in penalties committed (3.0 per game) and tied for first in penalty yards (20.8 per game).

Key Player (Eagles) — Chris Crane, QB

No matter how well Crane plays this week, he is going to split time with Davis. But Crane, who has thrown five interceptions and just two touchdown passes this season, needs to show improvement to keep Davis from taking over the job and prevent opponents from ganging up against BC’s running game.

Key Player (Wolfpack) — Jake Vermiglio, LT

Regardless of who plays quarterback for N.C. State, the passer will be right-handed. It’s up to Vermiglio to protect the quarterback’s blind side against a Boston College defense with plenty of playmakers in its front seven.

Boston College by 7