Virginia Tech @ Virginia preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2010 ) Virginia 7, Virginia Tech 37

THE STORY: With a Coastal Division title and a spot in the ACC Championship Game awaiting the winner, No. 4 Virginia Tech and No. 25 Virginia are playing for a lot more than just the Commonwealth Cup this year.

The Hokies have won 11 of the past 12 games – including the past seven – in this longtime in-state rivalry that has been every bit as lopsided as the record suggests, as evidenced by the 20-point margin of victory Virginia Tech has averaged during its winning streak in this series.

However, Virginia enters this game on a four-game winning streak with its best team in years as it broke into the top 25 for the first time since 2007 this week. The Cavaliers are flying high with two wins against ranked opponents already in their pocket. A third would propel Virginia into its first ACC title game.

TV: ESPN2 LINE: Virginia Tech -4.5

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (10-1, 6-1 ACC): RB David Wilson saw his streak of 100-yard rushing performances end at seven in last week’s 24-21 win over North Carolina. His 131.1-yard average is fourth-best in the nation while his 1,442 yards rushing for the season is just 26 yards shy of the top mark in FBS. He is complemented by 254-pound QB Logan Thomas, who has nine rushing scores on the season – three shy of the single-season school record for a quarterback.

ABOUT VIRGINIA (8-3, 5-2 ACC): The Cavaliers managed to escape Tallahassee last week with a 14-13 victory over Florida State, overcoming a late facemask penalty and a replay ruling that gave the Seminoles two extra chances to win the game on a field goal in the final 38 seconds. Virginia has surrendered just eight rushing scores all season – tied for fifth-best mark in the FBS.


EXTRA POINTS
1. Jarrett Boykin is six catches shy of breaking the Virginia Tech single-season mark while Danny Coale is two catches behind Boykin and needs 202 receiving yards to break Andre Davis' record of 962 set in 1999.

2. Virginia has started the same five players on the offensive line every game this season for the first time since 2004.

3. During the Hokies’ six-game winning streak, Thomas has accounted for 20 touchdowns – 12 through the air and eight on the ground.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 26, Virginia 21 - In Wilson, the Hokies will have the most reliable offensive weapon on the field. He'll be needed Saturday.