North Carolina @ Virginia Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 4, 2014 ) Virginia Tech 34, North Carolina 17

Frank Beamer prepares to coach Virginia Tech at home for the 180th and final time Saturday against No. 12 North Carolina - and the retiring coach is focused on extending the Hokies’ streak of bowl eligibility rather than the pending conclusion of his 35-year coaching career. “I just want them ready to play,” Beamer said Monday, revealing he is allowing the Hokies to wear all-black uniforms Saturday - including a helmet sticker depicting the No. 25 Beamer wore as a Virginia Tech player from 1966-68.

The Hokies seek their first three-game ACC winning streak since 2013, and need a victory in one of their final two games to become bowl eligible for the 23rd year in a row. It will not be easy against a North Carolina squad that rides a nine-game winning streak into the matchup and has scored an ACC-record 125 points in back-to-back blowouts of Duke and Miami (Fla). A North Carolina victory Saturday (or a Pittsburgh loss to Louisville) sends the Tar Heels to the ACC title game against top-ranked Clemson, and the Tar Heels come in averaging 42 points per game while not committing a turnover in their past three games. “Just take care of the football,” North Carolina coach Larry Fedora said earlier this week. “If we keep doing that, we’ll be really happy at the end of the year, I promise you.”

TV: Noon ET, ESPN. LINE: North Carolina -6.5

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (9-1, 6-0 ACC): Tailback Elijah Hood needs 55 yards to reach 1,000 for the season, ranking fourth in the ACC at 94.2 yards per game and teaming with quarterback Marquise Williams to give the Tar Heels a potent backfield duo. But it is North Carolina’s defense that has led the Tar Heels’ turnaround, allowing just 18.8 points per game after surrendering 39 per contest a year ago. Ryan Switzer earned conference specialist of the week after his ACC record-setting seventh career punt return for a touchdown, and Landon Turner was named ACC offensive lineman of the week.

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (5-5, 3-3): Redshirt freshman running back Travon McMillan comes in looking for his fourth consecutive 100-yard contest, averaging 115.4 rushing yards in his past five games. Receiver Isaiah Ford (eight touchdown receptions) and tight end Bucky Hodges (five) are the top targets for quarterback Michael Brewer, who has thrown eight touchdown passes despite playing only three complete games after breaking his left collarbone in the season opener against Ohio State. The Hokies have forced 20 turnovers (16th nationally) and are seventh nationally in passing yards allowed per game (170.9).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Williams rushed for three touchdowns last week and has 31 rushing scores in his career, while ranking third nationally in yards per passing attempt (9.6).

2. McMillan averages 5.53 yards per carry, fourth among freshmen in Power Five conferences.

3. The Hokies have won four of the past five meetings with the Tar Heels and are 9-2 against North Carolina since joining the ACC in 2004.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 28, Virginia Tech 20