Boston College @ Central Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2008 ) Central Florida 7, Boston College 34

THE STORY: Conference USA upstart and preseason favorite Central Florida looks for only its second win over an Atlantic Coast Conference team when it hosts Boston College. Central Florida, which has won five straight games and 10 of its last 11, has won only one of its previous 13 contests against the ACC - 25-23 at North Carolina State in 2007. Central Florida will be playing in front of a big crowd in Orlando and looking to impose their will on the visiting Eagles, who dropped their season opener at home last week to Northwestern 24-17.

TV: CBS Sports Network. LINE: Central Florida -7

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (0-1): It appears Montel Harris, last year's leading rusher who missed last week's game, will not play. His replacement, Andre Williams, filled in admirably, rushing for 122 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Sophomore quarterback Chase Rettig also had outstanding numbers, completing 24-of-44 passes for 351 yards as the Eagles outgained Northwestern 454-425. But the defense, which led the nation last year against the run, allowed Northwestern to rush for 227 yards and three touchdowns. All-America linebacker Luke Kuechly paced the defense with 18 tackles and an interception.

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (1-0): The Knights are looking for their first 2-0 start since 1998. Central Florida scored on its first five possessions in the first half, including three touchdown runs by quarterback Jeff Godfrey, while racing to a 35-0 halftime lead en route to a 62-0 victory over Charleston Southern. The Knights scored a school record eight rushing touchdowns. Central Florida was one of five Division I teams to record a shutout in its opener. Central Florida gained 560 yards of total offense, the ninth highest since the FBS era began in 1996. Following the game against Boston College, the Knights will play their next two on the road (Florida International and Brigham Young), and four of the next five away from Bright House Networks Stadium, where Central Florida is 20-8 since the on-campus facility opened in 2007.

EXTRA POINTS

1. This will be the second meeting. The Eagles won 34-7 in 2008 in Chestnut Hill, Mass., outscoring Central Florida 31-0 in the second half.

2. Boston College is 31-19 on the road since 2003, and since the Eagles joined the ACC in 2005, their overall record of 54-25 is second in the ACC to Virginia Tech.

3. Godfrey, the Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2010, has 13 career touchdown runs. The former Knights player he draws many comparisons to - ex-NFL All-Pro Duante Culpepper - rushed for 24 touchdowns in his four-year career.

PREDICTION: Central Florida 34, Boston College 17 - The Knights should control the game because of their excellent ground attack, coupled with the Eagles' struggling run defense. Also, Central Florida's team speed and home field advantage should prove to be enough against a Boston College team that may be searching for an identity for a few more weeks.