Virginia Tech @ North Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 17, 2011 ) North Carolina 21, Virginia Tech 24

Virginia Tech will try to keep its perfect record in the Tar Heel State intact when it visits North Carolina on Saturday. The Hokies are 13-0 in games played in North Carolina since they joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2004, including 4-0 at UNC. Virginia Tech is coming off a 27-24 loss to now-No. 23 Cincinnati, while the Tar Heels set a school record for points and margin of victory in a 66-0 win over Idaho, their second shutout of the season. North Carolina, which hasn't allowed a touchdown in its last 10 quarters or one at home in three games, will face the No. 85 offense in the country in total yards.

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network. LINE: North Carolina -4.5

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (3-2, 1-0 ACC): The Hokies led 24-20 last week before Cincinnati scored on a 39-yard pass with 13 seconds left. Virginia Tech, though, is No. 3 in the ACC at 17.6 points allowed per game and has intercepted a pass in each of its five games this season. Junior linebacker Jack Tyler is tied for first in ACC with 53 tackles and tied for 14th in the nation with 10.6 per game. The Hokies are 10th in total offense in the ACC. Quarterback Logan Thomas has completed only 52.7 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and six interceptions. Coach Frank Beamer will try for his 255th career victory, which would tie him with Nebraska's Tom Osborne for seventh all-time among FBS coaches.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (3-2, 0-1 ACC): The Tar Heels are second in the ACC in scoring (43.2) and points allowed (14.6), but a lot of that has to do with the Idaho game and a 62-0 season-opening victory over FCS school Elon. When North Carolina plays a team from a BCS conference, though, it is a different story. The Tar Heels lost to Wake Forest 28-27 and to Louisville 39-34 - both on the road - and defeated East Carolina 27-6. Quarterback Bryn Renner has completed 63.8 of his passes with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. A.J. Blue leads the team with 257 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Virginia Tech is 54-11 - 27-5 on the road - in ACC games, including 7-1 against North Carolina.

2. North Carolina had not registered two shutouts in a season since 1996.

3. The Hokies have won 23 straight conference road openers beginning in 1963, when they were a member of the Southern Conference. They were an independent from 1965-90.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 24, North Carolina 23