**Boston College at Boise State**

--When a school earns a bowl bid, it doesn't anticipate playing a true road game, but that's exactly what Boston College (8-3 straight up, 7-4 against the spread) will be doing today at the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise. That's because this post-season game is played at Bronco Stadium on the Boise State campus.

--Most sports books are listing Boston College as a 1 1/2-point favorite with a total of 54. Bettors can find a plus-105 price for Boise to win outright.

--Boise State (9-3 SU, 6-4 ATS) hasn't tasted defeat at home since a 41-20 loss to Washington State in the second game of Dan Hawkins' tenure back in 2001. Since then, Hawkins has led the Broncos to 31 consecutive wins at Bronco Stadium.

--This will be the last game of Hawkins' tenure, as once again a Boise coach has bolted town for greener pastures, just like Houston Nutt and Dirk Koetter before him. "I'm sure it will be sad to some degree," Hawkins told the Associated Press. "I'm just trying to get us ready to play as best we can. Once it's over I'm sure it'll be a little bit of a shock."

--Hawkins will be replaced by offensive coordinator Chris Petersen, so that continuity has probably lessened the emotional blow of Hawkins' departure for Boise's players.

--Tom O'Brien's squad has won three of its five road games both SU and ATS. The Eagles have posted a 6-2 spread record as favorites, 2-1 on the road and 4-1 at home.

--The Eagles have finished the season with back-to-back wins against North Carolina State (30-10) and Maryland (31-16). They own the nation's longest winning streak in bowl games with five wins in a row.

--It's worth mentioning that Boston College has already gone west for a game at a high altitude this season, winning its opener 20-3 at BYU.

--Boise quarterback Jared Zabransky has endured a disappointing season after getting some pre-season hype as a possible Heisman darkhorse. He has been intercepted 14 times and lost a number of costly fumbles in big game against Fresno State and Georgia.

--BC's defense is led by senior DE Mathias Kiwanuka, who had 16 tackles and six sacks in the team's last three games. Count on plenty of eyes from NFL scouts watching the matchup between Kiwanuka and Boise OT Daryn Colledge, who is a two-time All-WAC selection. Both players are possible first-round picks in the NFL Draft.

--Boise has won all three of its previous bowl games at home. The victims have included Louisville, UTEP and Iowa State.

--The 'under' is 5-3 overall for the Eagles, 4-1 in their road games.

--The 'under' is 3-1 for Boise, 1-0 in its lone home game with a total.

--There's an 80 percent chance of rain in Boise today with temperatures expected to be in the 40s.

--ESPN will provide television coverage at 4:30 p.m. Eastern.