Virginia @ North Carolina State preview
Carter Finley Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 22, 2011 ) North Carolina State 28, Virginia 14
North Carolina State is reeling after a stunning last-second loss to rival North Carolina caused it to lose grip on the ACC’s Atlantic Division. The Wolfpack have a chance to regain some confidence at home against struggling Virginia on Saturday. North Carolina State rallied from an 18-point deficit and then let a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead slip away in a wild 43-35 loss to the Tar Heels. Giovani Bernard’s 74-yard punt return with 13 seconds left helped the Tar Heels pull off the upset. The Wolfpack will try to rebound against a struggling Virginia squad that has lost six straight and needs to win out just to become bowl eligible. North Carolina State has won three of the last four meetings, including a 28-14 road victory last season.
TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3.com. LINE: North Carolina State -9.5
ABOUT VIRGINIA (2-6, 0-4 ACC): It has to drive coach Mike London crazy that the Cavaliers have outgained each of their last four opponents – yet still lost because of turnovers. Virginia committed three more in a 16-10 loss to Wake Forest on Oct. 20 and has the worst turnover margin in the FBS (minus-2.0). It could have been worse, too, as the Cavaliers only lost two of five fumbles against the Demon Deacons. Sophomore quarterback Phillip Sims, who has started the last three games, was 22-of-39 for 253 yards with a touchdown and an interception against Wake Forest.
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (5-3, 2-2): The Wolfpack wasted a career-best performance from senior Mike Glennon, who was 29-of-52 for 467 yards and a school-record tying five touchdowns. Glennon was forced to throw, however, because N.C. State trailed 25-7 after one quarter. And after it rallied, the Wolfpacks’ normally stingy defense (23.0 points per game, 41st) faltered again. The defense is 12th in sacks (3.0 per game), but managed to reach the quarterback twice against North Carolina. Meanwhile, the offense has relied on Glennon, who leads the ACC with 306.8 yards per game.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The 25 points North Carolina scored were the most by an N.C. State opponent in the first quarter since 1997.
2. N.C. State is 108th in passing efficiency defense (278.1), thanks in part to David Amerson’s stunning fall from grace. Amerson set an ACC record with 13 interceptions last season, but has been burned repeatedly in 2012.
3. The Cavaliers are 98th in scoring offense (21.5) and 69th in third-down conversion percentage (39.3).
PREDICTION: North Carolina State 31, Virginia 17