Boston College vs. Missouri Prediction: Luther Burden, Brady Cook to Power Tigers Past Eagles

    One of only two AP-ranked matchups in Week 3, Boston College takes on Missouri. Get insights on how to bet this game in our Boston College vs. Missouri prediction.

    The Boston College Eagles kicked off the 2024 season with a stunning 28-13 victory over then-No. 10 Florida State, marking their largest road win against a top-10 opponent in program history.

    Following a dominant 56-0 win over Duquesne, the Eagles have entered the AP Poll at No. 24 for the first time since 2018. They now aim for another top-10 road victory as they face the No. 6 Missouri Tigers on Saturday. Missouri has been dominant, outscoring their opponents 89-0 in their first two games and standing as the only team in the nation yet to allow a point.

    Ahead of the matchup, College Football Network analyzes the latest betting odds and provides a Boston College vs. Missouri prediction.

    Boston College vs. Missouri Betting Preview

    All Boston College vs. Missouri odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Sept. 14.

    • Spread
      Missouri -14.5
    • Moneyline
      Boston College +455, Missouri -625
    • Over/Under
      53 points
    • Game time
      12:45 p.m. ET
    • Location
      Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Missouri
    • Predicted Weather at Kick
      77 degrees, 4-6 MPH winds, partly cloudy and humid
    • How to Watch
      SEC Network, ESPN+

    That spread should look familiar to BC fans who watched their Eagles walk into Doak Campbell Stadium as 16.5-point underdogs against Florida State in Week 1 and walk out with the program’s first win over an AP-ranked opponent in a season opener since 1976.

    Boston College vs. Missouri Betting Preview

    The Bill O’Brien era at Boston College is off to an impressive start. The Eagles have already defeated a top-10 opponent for the first time in a decade, recorded a shutout in their home opener, and moved into the AP Top 25 this early in the season for the first time since 2005. Through two weeks, they rank among the top 10 nationally in both rushing offense (ninth) and rushing defense (seventh).

    This success is even more remarkable, considering O’Brien took over the program late in the coaching carousel, starting on February 9. The challenge only intensifies as Boston College now faces its toughest test of the season: a road game against a top-10, SEC opponent that has yet to allow a point.

    Missouri, albeit against Murray State and Buffalo, has opened the season with consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1935. Their 89-point margin over the first two games is the largest in school history.

    Boston College has covered the spread in four of its last five road games and has attracted early betting support, with 56% of bets placed on the Eagles +16.5 as of Tuesday. Meanwhile, Missouri is 8-1 against the spread in its last nine games and has won 18 straight home games against non-conference opponents, tying a school record.

    Eagles quarterback Thomas Castellanos has been a key player, with nearly a third of his completions this season going for touchdowns (six of 19). His passing efficiency rating of 259.1 is the highest among FBS quarterbacks with at least 10 pass attempts.

    However, he will face a much tougher test against a Missouri defense that has not allowed a point and currently ranks first in total defense (127.0 yards per game) and opponent completion percentage (37.1%).

    On offense, the Tigers are equally formidable. Quarterback Brady Cook is just 66 yards away from reaching 7,000 career passing yards. Missouri’s diverse attack features five different players with rushing touchdowns, including Cook and standout receiver Luther Burden III, a likely first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Tigers also have six players with at least five catches this season, tied for the most in the FBS.

    Prediction for Boston College vs. Missouri

    Missouri checked in at No. 9 in CFN’s Power Rankings this week ahead of their first real challenge of the season.

    The Tigers have dominated with defense through two games. But they haven’t seen anything close to what BC can offer with QB Thomas Castellanos and RBs Kye Robichaux and Treshaun Ward in the backfield.

    MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor

    Missouri’s schedule lines up nicely as they likely won’t face another ranked opponent after this game until the final week of October when they travel to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama.

    If Eliah Drinkwitz can get his players to avoid looking beyond this matchup, Missouri should enter SEC play with an unblemished record. The point spread is too rich for my blood, but I am confident in the outright winner.

    Prediction: Missouri 30, Boston College 16

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