Way-Too-Specific 2021 BC Athletics Predictions

Way-Too-Specific 2021 BC Athletics Predictions

January 4, 2021 · by · in Uncategorized

By JD Biagioni

Last year, when the New Year rolled around, I tried my hand at some predictions for Boston College athletics in 2020. It was a fun project, and the beauty of it is that the guesses were so out there that no one would expect me to hit on many, or any, of them. This year I took another crack at it.  

But before we get to this year, let’s take a look back at my 2020 predictions. First off, I didn’t have “global pandemic” on my prediction list, so most of these didn’t have a chance to play out in the first place.

For football, I swung and missed with the transfers. I had Anthony Brown to Kansas and Felipe Franks to BC. I’m glad I was wrong, however, because Phil Jurkovec worked out just fine for BC. I pegged the Eagles to finish 7-5 in the regular season, not too far off from their 6-5 finish despite all the schedule changes. 

Men’s hockey didn’t win the Beanpot, but they did lock down the Hockey East regular season crown. They never got a chance to play for a National Championship, so we can only imagine. 

We’ll just forget about baseball, because the team only played 15 games before the shutdown.

Finally, for both men’s and women’s basketball, I did pretty well. I had men’s basketball as the No. 10 seed in the tournament and predicted they’d defeat UNC (although I didn’t think the Tar Heels would be that bad last season). The women fulfilled my predictions of advancing to the ACC semifinals and defeating Duke in the process. 

Now on to 2021.

Football:

  • There WILL be fans in the stands when the Eagles open up the 2021 season. It figures to be an ACC opponent, as the earliest non-conference game is scheduled for September 11th. Maybe NC State or Wake coming to Alumni to begin the year?
  • Speaking of those non-conference games, BC currently has three scheduled, leaving one open spot. I’m going to say that 12th opponent becomes Tennessee at Alumni Stadium. The Vols are one of only a few teams with a 2021 opening remaining, and, judging by their other three non-conference games, they could use a Power Five road game. At the same time, BC would be wise to schedule a Power Five team and would need a home game to even out the home-road split.
  • Jurkovec finishes in the top 20 nationally in both passing yards and touchdowns.
  • 2021 will be the year that BC gets its long-awaited win against a ranked

    Jurkovec threw for 2,558 yards and 17 TDs in his first year at BC.

    opponent. It’ll be tough, mostly because they likely won’t be playing many. No Miami. No North Carolina. No Notre Dame. It seems like Clemson is the only sure thing for a ranked team, and I’m gonna pump the breaks on a second straight year of the Eagles putting a scare into the Tigers at Memorial Stadium. So where will that win come from? I’m going to go with NC State. The Wolfpack went 8-3 in the regular season and are ranked No. 23, but they are very beatable. 

  • I’m going to repeat myself with the final pick, because I’m again going to say that BC finishes 7-5 and heads to the inaugural Fenway Bowl. The Eagles defeat Eastern Carolina in the game to finally get the elusive eighth win. 

Men’s Hockey

  • In a normal year, I’d have said Alex Newhook would win the Hobey Baker Award, but he missed the first half of the season training for the World Junior’s with Team Canada. Even though no forward has separated himself in the first half, I do think it’ll be difficult for Newhook to catch up. If I had to pick a winner today, I’m going with Minnesota goalie Jack LaFontaine. He’s the best player on the best team in the country, and, in such a weird season, I think a goalie may have an elevated chance to finally take home another Hobey. I’ll say LaFontaine’s two runner-ups are Quinnipiac’s Odeen Tufto and Matt Boldy. 
  • BC repeats as Hockey East regular season champion but fails to win the Hockey East Tournament, leaving doubts heading into the NCAA

    The last time BC and Minnesota met in the NCAA Tournament, the Eagles prevailed 6-1.

    Tournament. The Eagles get one of the four No. 1 seeds but draw a tough opening round matchup against Denver, meaning they’d find themselves essentially traveling to Denver for the game. They defeat Denver and Quinnipiac on the road to the Frozen Four. There, they’ll meet Michigan, a team built much like the 2019-20 Eagles. On the other side of the bracket, we’ll see an all-Minnesota matchup between Minnesota and Minnesota State. The two best teams in the country, BC and Minnesota, make it to the championship game, where BC triumphs 4-1. It’s 1-1 entering the third, but Newhook and Jack McBain score before Mike Hardman throws in an empty-netter to clinch the Eagles sixth National Title.

Men’s Basketball

  • I’ll be kind. I don’t think things will end well for BC this season, but we’ll focus on some positives.
  • You all come to appreciate Rich Kelly, who wins BC a game this year with his shooting. 
  • Wynston Tabbs makes an all-ACC team. 
  • The Eagles beat a ranked team. Not a highly-ranked team, but a ranked one nonetheless. It’s going to be an odd season. Might as well pull off an upset. 
  • Steffon Mitchell returns, thanks to the NCAA’s Covid changes. BC’s 2021-22 starting five will be Tabbs, Jay Heath, DeMarr Langford Jr., CJ Felder and Mitchell. 
  • Bill Coen, Mike Rhoades, Brian Michaelson, Kyle Neptune. Not going to say why they’re here. Google them. 

Baseball

  • There’s a lot to be excited about with Birdball this season.
  • In a 50-game season, BC finishes 29-21, earning a No. 3 seed in one of the regionals. BC falls one game short of advancing to the Super Regionals, losing in the Regional Finals. In their journey to that game, the Eagles will win a game against the No. 1 seed in that region. 
  • Jack Cunningham finishes in the top three in the ACC in home runs. 
  • Sal Frelick becomes the next BC first round pick, when he goes to the Oakland Athletics at pick No. 25. Cody Morissette stays local, landing with the Red Sox in the second round, and Mason Pelio heads to Atlanta, also as a second round selection.

Women’s Basketball

  • I know that NC State loss was crushing, but the BC women defeat a highly-ranked team either in the regular season or the ACC Tournament. 
  • The Eagles enter the ACC Tournament as a bubble team, but a strong performance that sees them again advance to the semifinals puts them in as a 10-seed. They upset the No. 7 seed and advance to face the No. 2 team in the region. BC’s season ends there, but the Eagles to lead or tie that second round game at some point in the second half.