It's been a bit of a busy day around here for our whole staff, thus we are getting our predictions up late.  Jim Sumner, who has authored books on Duke Basketball and Carolina League Baseball, joins us as the guest picker this week.  We duck no hard games, picking the toughest match-ups we can find.  Here are this week's picks with an added blurb on how each prognosticator feels the Duke-Boston College game will go.

Mark Watson - Two teams meet in dire need of victory when Duke travels to Boston College where they'll play on turf for the first time this season.  Look for a very close game and both teams will play a more open offense than they have to date.  My brain is saying take BC becasue they are at home by a FG.  With the way the Blue Devils kicking game is going, I hate to say this and hope I am wrong.  Boston College 28, Duke 27

Bob Green - Duke and Boston College are both off to disappointing 0-2 starts but the winner of this game will be 1-0 in the all important conference games.  The Blue Devils have had success moving the ball, evidenced by the 305 yards of passing offense recorded against Stanford; however, they have been abysmal in the Red Zone going 3 for 7 on the season.  Duke must solve their Red Zone woes to win at Chestnut Hill.  This week Coach David Cutcliffe will opt to stick with starting quarterback Sean Renfree inside the twenty yard line and the Blue Devils' offense will respond by pushing the ball into the end zone multiple times. Duke 24, Boston College 13

Patrick Cacchio - Two winless teams with the lowest scoring offenses in the ACC will meet on Saturday, but only one will emerge a winner. The BC offense has looked lost without Montel Harris to hand it off to 30+ times a game. Duke's offense has moved the ball, but failed to score. The historically stingy BC defense has given up yards and points this year, while the Duke defense has performed better than expected, but inconsistently. In the end, Duke has too many offensive weapons for the depleted Eagles' defense, and the Blue Devils' defense should put together another strong showing against a struggling BC offense. Sean Renfree gets back on track and into the end zone in this one, and Juwan Thompson will have a third straight solid game on the ground. Duke 28, Boston College 13

Jim Sumner- Put up or shut up time for Duke.  I see Duke with more focus and more intensity.  I also see Duke taking more chances downfield.  Look for Renfree to get picked once or twice but look for him to get it in the end zone once or twice.  Training wheels come off this weekend.  And the 27 is a missed PAT, not two field goals.  Unless Snyderwine is visited by the good-ankle-fairy over the next 40 hours.   Duke 27, Boston College 20