Boston College @ Syracuse preview

Boston College at Syracuse

Syracuse has one last shot to win a home game against an FBS opponent when it hosts Boston College in a non-conference matchup on Saturday.

Syracuse has felt at home away from the Carrier Dome, going 5-1 overall and a perfect 4-0 on the road in Big East Conference play.

Once the Orange get inside the Dome, it’s another matter.

Syracuse (7-4, 4-3 Big East) has not beaten a FBS team at home this season, going 0-3, and its two home wins were over FCS opponents Colgate and Maine back in September. The Orange have dropped three straight at home and have been outscored 96-40 in that span.

Connecticut was the latest team to come into the Carrier Dome and take it to Syracuse, posting a 23-6 victory last week. Jordan Todman ran for 130 yards and two touchdowns as the Huskies became bowl eligible and kept their Big East title hopes alive while effectively ending the Orange’s hopes of a conference championship.

Syracuse has had some problems with its offense being inconsistent, but at least it can rely on freshman kicker Ross Krautman.

Krautman made two field goals against UConn and has converted 15 in a row. He is one short of the record of 16 set by Gary Anderson in his senior year in 1981. Krautman is 17-for-18 this season with his lone miss coming on the second of three attempts at Washington on Sept. 11. The school record for field goals in a season is 18, also set by Anderson in 1981.

Boston College (6-5, 4-4 ACC) started the season 2-0 but went on a five-game losing streak and looked certain to miss out come bowl season. The Eagles have responded, though, winning four straight, and they are coming off a 17-13 victory over Virginia last week.

Montel Harris had 114 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries to lead Boston College to bowl eligibility for the 12th straight season. The Eagles are likely headed to either the Jan. 9 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco or the Dec. 29 Military Bowl in Washington, D.C.

Harris moved into second place on the school’s all-time rushing list with his performance against the Cavaliers, but he injured his knee in the process and is out this week. Harris underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee. He is targeting BC’s bowl game for a return.

Syracuse leads the series with Boston College 28-17 and won the last meeting 43-17 in 2004.