Virginia Tech @ North Carolina preview
Kenan Memorial Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 29, 2009 ) North Carolina 20, Virginia Tech 17
Could North Carolina's fuller roster be mustering a late run for something bigger than the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl? Not yet, if Virginia Tech (7-2, 5-0 ACC) can clinch the Coastal Division and drive a stake in the Tar Heels (6-3, 3-2), already two games behind. Both teams are coming off emotional victories and each side will be minus a key running back.
Virginia Tech has its sights on the ACC championship game Dec. 4 in Charlotte. Frank Beamer's Hokies are 17th in the coaches' poll, on a seven-game winning streak and headed for their 18th straight bowl.
The Hokies rallied from behind to beat Georgia Tech 28-21 last Saturday. A star in that victory, running back and kick returner David Wilson, is sidelined this week because of mononucleosis. Wilson has run back two kickoffs for touchdowns and is the Hokies' third-leading rusher with 462 yards. Defensive end Chris Drager also will miss the game after being injured in the Georgia Tech game.
Wilson's absence puts even more pressure on fourth-year quarterback Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech's career total offense leader and this year's top rusher with 64.9 yards a game.
A few more touches also will go to Ryan Williams (195 rushing yards and five touchdowns in five games), Darren Evans (515 yards and nine touchdowns) and Jarrett Boykin (36 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns). Taylor triggers all these options for an average of 36 points a game, 16th in the nation.
Virginia Tech's scoring defense ranks 28th at 20.1 points per game. It helps that the Hokies hold opponents to the lowest pass completion percentage (47.5) in the ACC.
In his three games against North Carolina, Taylor has thrown no touchdown passes but three interceptions. In 2009, the visiting Tar Heels beat Virginia Tech on a last-play field goal.
North Carolina, hit hard early in the season by an NCAA investigation, is coming off a 37-35 victory at Florida State in which T.J. Yates threw for a school-record 439 yards and three touchdowns. Dwight Jones caught eight passes for 233 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown. On the season, Jones has 40 catches for 716 yards and four touchdowns. Yates has completed 66.4 percent of his pass attempts for 2,312 yards and 15 touchdowns, with but four interceptions.
Leading rusher Johnny White broke his clavicle against Florida State and will miss the rest of the season, further stretching a North Carolina backfield that was already thinned by injuries. White has 720 yards on 130 carries and 288 yards on 24 receptions. Senior Shaun Draughn will have to step up and add to his 82 carries and 386 yards.
North Carolina and Virginia Tech are virtually tied for the ACC lead in passing efficiency. The Tar Heels lead the Hokies 153.1 to 152.7, more than 12 points ahead of anybody else.