When Boston College takes on SMU in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl on Dec. 28, it will do so in a venue less than four miles by car from its Chestnut Hill campus.
The hallowed grounds of Fenway Park are located a convenient 3.8 miles down Beacon Street from the Eagles’ campus. That scant distance is a luxury, given the 1,769-mile distance by car that would take up 26 hours of non-stop driving to complete to get from SMU’s Dallas location to the Boston ballpark.
Ahead of this year’s Fenway Bowl and to aid in your Massachusetts sports betting, BetMassachusetts.com broke down the most unfair geographic matchups among this year’s bowl games.
The Mustangs are at a significant travel disadvantage, but the school’s fans have numerous reasons to make the holiday trip — including the ability to experience Massachusetts betting apps. There is no legal sports betting in Texas.
Boston College a Geographic Beneficiary
That vast difference in mileage makes the 2023 Fenway Bowl one of the most unfair of this year’s bowl cycle, finishing fifth behind the Hawai’i Bowl (2,380 mileage difference), Sugar Bowl (2,097 mileage difference), Holiday Bowl (1,945 mileage difference) and the Idaho Potato Bowl (1,876 mileage difference).
SMU’s marathon trek from the heart of Texas to the banks of the Charles River is right up there with Coastal Carolina (which travels 12 hours by plane to play in Hawaii), Washington (which is 4.5 hours by plane or 38 hours by car from New Orleans), Louisville (which is six hours by plane from San Diego) and Georgia Southern (which is 34 hours by car from Boise) as this year’s marathon bowl game travelers.
Whether that hometown advantage proves to be much of a benefit to the Eagles in 2023 remains to be seen, though oddsmakers from ESPN BET Massachusetts currently have them as a 10.5-point underdog against the 11-2 Mustangs, who are ranked No. 24 nationally.
While other schools will have to embark on marathon trips involving planes, trains and automobiles this bowl season, BC fans can rest soundly knowing their school won’t have to undergo such an ordeal come late December.
