BOSTON (AP) – Boston College would clinch its first BCS bowl berth by beating Syracuse on Saturday. The Orange have a more modest goal – saving their coach’s job.

In their last season before jumping to the Atlantic Coast Conference, the 17th-ranked Eagles need just a win to clinch the Big East title outright and play in the Fiesta Bowl or the Sugar Bowl, a less likely possibility.

If BC loses, there would be a four-way tie for the title between BC, Syracuse, West Virginia and Pittsburgh, with Pittsburgh expected to get the BCS berth.

“We always thought that we’d be able to do this. Now that’s right here and we can do it. It feels good,” BC quarterback Paul Peterson said. “Everyone wants it real bad.”

Peterson won’t play, having broken his right (throwing) hand in last Saturday’s 34-17 win at Temple. Freshman Matt Ryan, who relieved Peterson against Temple, will start against the Orange.

“It’s a big game, but you’ve got to approach it as just one game,” Ryan said. “That’s the way we’ve approached every other game. Up to this point, it’s the biggest game on our schedule.”

Against Temple, Ryan went 8-for-15 for 121 yards and a touchdown as BC went primarily with its usual offense.

“The guy had a terrific game,” Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni said. “They didn’t cut back. They just kept doing what they do. I don’t think we can change.”

BC (8-2, 4-1) can go to its first major bowl game since it finished the 1984 season with a victory in the Cotton Bowl. The Eagles could earn a BCS berth even though the Big East was weakened by the departure this season of Miami and Virginia Tech to the ACC.

Syracuse (5-5, 3-2) would become bowl eligible by winning Saturday but has lost 10 straight Big East road games since upsetting No. 5 Virginia Tech in October 2001.

Syracuse had last weekend off after losing at Temple, 34-24.

The Orange know they have to downplay calls for letting Pasqualoni go with one year left on his contract. He is in his 14th season as the school’s head coach and hasn’t taken the team to a bowl game since 2001.

“You don’t really focus on those outside distractions,” linebacker Kellen Pruitt said. “You’ve really got to put all your main energy and focus in practice.”

Running back Walter Reyes could give the Orange a big lift. He missed their last game with a shoulder injury but has 800 yards rushing and, as a senior, could be playing his last college game.

“Only Walter knows how he is,” Pasqualoni said, “and he’s only going to know once somebody hits him.”

Pasqualoni, 15-19 the past three seasons, lost his strongest supporter when athletic director Jake Crouthamel announced his retirement, effective at the end of June, after 26 years on the job.

One bright spot in Pasqualoni’s tenure was a 39-14 win at home over BC last year. During that game, Syracuse fans angered by BC’s plans to leave the Big East serenaded the Eagles with chants of “A-C-C.”

“It’s definitely resonating in our heads,” Eagles defensive tackle Tim Bulman said.