North Carolina @ Virginia Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 13, 2010 ) Virginia Tech 26, North Carolina 10

THE STORY: No. 7 Virginia Tech controls its own destiny in its pursuit of the ACC championship and the BCS Bowl berth that comes with the trophy. The Hokies made it through one test with a win at Georgia Tech last week and are currently one game ahead of rival Virginia in the ACC Coastal Division. With a visit to the Cavaliers on tap for next weekend, Virginia Tech must first sneak past a dangerous North Carolina team. The Tar Heels looked like they had a chance to make some noise in the ACC until running into a rough patch over the last month with losses in three of their last four games. North Carolina was shut out for the first time in five years on Nov. 5 but has had a bye week to prepare for the Virginia Tech offense. Hokies coach Frank Beamer will be looking for his 250th career win when the Tar Heels visits Blacksburg, Va., on Thursday.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Virginia Tech -10.5

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (6-4, 2-4 ACC): The Tar Heels expect to have quarterback Bryn Renner healthy on Saturday after the sophomore was knocked out of the 13-0 loss at North Carolina State with a concussion. Renner was coming off his first career 300-yard passing performance in a win over Wake Forest when he ran into trouble against the Wolfpack. North Carolina managed only three rushing yards against NC State and is 72nd in the FBS in rushing average at 144.8 yards.

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (9-1, 5-1): The Hokies are aiming for a berth in their fourth ACC Championship game in the last five years. Beamer’s offense is running in high gear lately, going over 400 total yards in five straight, and is coming off a strong performance in a 37-26 victory over Georgia Tech. Sophomore quarterback Logan Thomas passed for three touchdowns and rushed for two more - the second time this season he has totaled five scores in a game.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. The Hokies are 25-2 in November games since 2004.

2. The last time the schools met on a Thursday in Blacksburg, the Tar Heels came away with a 20-17 victory in 2009.

3. Renner’s father, Bill, was a punter for Virginia Tech.

PREDICTION: Hokies 24, Tar Heels 14. Thomas will prove to be too much for the North Carolina defense.