How to watch and stream Duke vs Boston College football game Friday and story lines

Steve Wiseman
Wilfredo Lee/AP

For the first time since 2018, Duke football will play a game knowing it can achieve bowl eligibility with a win when the Blue Devils face Boston College on Friday night at 7 p.m.

Having posted losing records the past three seasons, Duke (5-3, 2-2 ACC) is on the cusp of returning to a bowl in Mike Elko’s first season as head coach. All the Blue Devils need is one win in their final four games, starting with the trip to Boston College.

“I mean, I would be lying if I said that’s not been at the top of my mind,” Duke defensive end RJ Oben said.

Coming off an open week, Duke hasn’t played since hammering Miami, 45-21, on Oct. 22. In that game, starting wide receiver Eli Pancol suffered an ankle injury that required season-ending surgery.

The Blue Devils also won without starting kicker Charlie Ham, who is away from the team dealing with what Elko is only calling a “personal issue.” His absence is not performance-related, Elko said. Ham will not play for Duke at Boston College either.

Freshman walk-on Todd Pelino learned the night before the Miami game he’d be handling extra-point and field-goal kicks. During the game, he added kickoff duties when Jackson Hubbard strained a muscle in his leg.

A native of Cornelius, north of Charlotte, Pelino admitted feeling nervous, but he made all six of his extra-point kicks and added a field goal.

His father showed him high school game film, reminding Pelino of all his successful kicks at Cannon School in Kannapolis, to ease his mind.

“I went and talked to him and my mom for probably 30 minutes and he showed me some films,” Pelino said “That night he sent me some more films from high school and kicking with him. So that was good and so I kind of calmed me down.”

Pelino also had a FaceTime call with South Carolina kicker Mitch Jeter, Pelino’s former high school teammate, for about 30 minutes.

“He talked me through his first start,” Pelino said. “He talked me through the emotions and what I’d be going through.”

Kickoff time + TV channel for Friday’s game

The game will start at 7 p.m. on Friday and will air on ESPN2, which is available on most cable and satellite services, like Spectrum, Dish Network and DirecTV.

How to stream Duke vs Boston College game online

Are you a cord-cutter?

If your preferred method of watching games involves streaming, there are options for that, too.

ESPN2 is available on streaming services such as Sling, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTubeTV and DirecTV Stream.

Game day details: Duke vs. Boston College

Teams: Duke Blue Devils vs. Boston College Eagles

Where: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Date: Friday, Nov. 4

Time: 7 p.m.

TV: ESPN2

Betting line: Duke is a 9.5-point favorite.

Series history: The Eagles lead the all-time series, which began in 1927, 5-3 over Duke. This will be the team’s six game as ACC rivals. Boston College won the most recent game, 26-6, at Wallace Wade Stadium in 2020. The last time the teams met at Boston College, Duke won, 20-19, in 2011.

Pregame reading

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