Boston College vs Nebraska prediction & betting tips - Dec. 27 - Pinstripe Bowl

The Boston College Eagles take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday at noon ET in the Pinstripe Bowl. The game can be seen on ABC.

Boston College (7-5) ended the 2024 season with a 34-23 triumph over Pitt as the Eagles finished the year on a two-game winning streak. Nebraska (6-6) ended the year with a 13-10 loss to Iowa.

Boston College vs Nebraska: Preview

Boston College is a 3.5-point underdog, while the over/under is set at 45.5 points.

The Eagles will be without starting quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who is in the portal, but overall Boston College is without four players in the Pinstripe Bowl. Here are the other players not playing in the Pinstripe Bowl:

• Jayden McGowan, WR (transfer portal)
• Jalen Cheek, S (transfer portal)
• Sione Hala, S (transfer portal)
• Thomas Castellanos, QB (transfer portal)

Boston College will turn to Grayson James, who threw for 901 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. The Eagles will rely on their ground game, as Kye Robichaux rushed for 725 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Nebraska, meanwhile, has multiple players in the transfer portal but will have quarterback Dylan Raiola starting in the Pinstripe Bowl. The full list of Nebraska players not playing in the bowl game is as follows:

• Dante Dowdell, RB (transfer portal)
• Williams Nwaneri, DE (transfer portal)
• Nate Boerkircher, TE (transfer portal)
• Keona Davis, DE (transfer portal)
• Dae’Vonn Hall, WR (transfer portal)
• Mason Jones, DB (transfer portal)
• Ryker Davis, RB (transfer portal)
• Daniel Kaelin, QB (transfer portal)
• Jimari Butler, DL (transfer portal)
• James Williams, DL (transfer portal)
• Kai Wallin, DL (transfer portal)
• Emmett Johnson, RB (transfer portal)
• Princewill Umanmielen, EDGE (transfer portal)
• Mikai Gbayor, LB (transfer portal)
• Stefon Thompson, LB (transfer portal)
• Vincent Jackson, DL (transfer portal)
• Gabe Ervin Jr., RB (transfer portal)
• Malachi Coleman, WR (transfer portal)
• Syncere Safeeullah, CB (transfer portal)

The Cornhuskers are led by Raiola, who threw for 2,595 yards, 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. However, Nebraska will be without starting running back Dante Dowdell and backup Emmett Johnson, so the Cornhuskers will likely be focused on passing the ball.

Nebraska will be one-dimensional in this matchup, as its run game will be hard with so many key running backs in the portal. However, Raiola has taken steps forward in every game, and he should be able to have success against the Eagles' defense.

Ultimately, with a backup QB, Boston College will struggle at times on offense as Nebraska will edge out a win.

Prediction: Nebraska 20, Boston College 17.

Boston College vs Nebraska: Betting Tips

Tip 1: Nebraska ML (-175)

Tip 2: Boston College +3.5 (-110)

Tip 3: Under 45.5 points (-110)