I favor a wager on the Eagles to cover the spread on Saturday.

Boston College has been excellent up front this season and will challenge Missouri's untested defense, as Castellanos (5.4 YPC), Robichaux (4.5 YPC), Wade (6.6 YPC) and Richard (5.4 YPC) will all move the chains on the ground. Castellanos (73.1% CMP%) will have success on intermediate routes through the air as well. BC will look to control the pace with its ground game, reducing Mizzou's time of possession. The Eagles fared well against Florida State's talented defensive front and should feel confident going up against a Missouri unit that features several new faces via the transfer portal after losing pass rusher Darius Robinson and defensive backs Jaylon Carlies, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Kris Abrams-Drain from last year's stout defense.

The Tigers' offense is legit, but will they be overwhelmingly better than the Eagles' attack? I don't anticipate that being the case. This will be Mizzou's first challenge of the season and they're facing a confident BC team that showed it can play the role of spoiler well versus FSU. The Tigers will undoubtedly move the football against the Eagles, but as great as Missouri can be when everything is clicking, it can be shaky when things go awry. The visitors have enough offense and defense to keep this game closer than 17 points.