Week 4: Virginia Tech at North Carolina

Wake Forest at Florida State is the game of the week in the ACC, but this Coastal Division clash is almost as attractive. Virginia Tech was the preseason pick to win the division, while upstart North Carolina was the choice to finish second.

The Tar Heels showed last week that they are on the rise in their second year under Butch Davis. UNC, which was shaky in its season-opening win over McNeese State, went on the road and routed Rutgers 44-12. The win snapped UNC’s 20-game losing streak outside the state of North Carolina and gave the team its first 2-0 start since 2000. It was impressive enough that Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, whose team lost to East Carolina in the season opener and beat Georgia Tech 20-17 at home last week, said that UNC is better than any team the Hokies have played this season.

Virginia Tech will attack the challenge with sophomore Tyrod Taylor as its full-time quarterback. Beamer used Taylor exclusively last week instead of Sean Glennon, and Taylor responded with a performance that was much more impressive on the field than the stat sheet. Taylor, now 6-0 as a starter in his brief college career, rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries against the Yellow Jackets while completing 9 of 14 passes for 48 yards. Key in this game will be whether the Tar Heels can keep Taylor inside the pocket and force him to throw to his inexperienced group of wide receivers.

Virginia Tech’s defense did a good job containing Georgia Tech’s option-based offense last week, but the task is different this week. UNC features an explosive passing attack led by sophomore quarterback T.J. Yates, who tied a career high with three touchdown passes against Rutgers. On the outside, Yates has the ACC’s top two receivers (in terms of yardage) in senior Brandon Tate (115.5 yards per game) and junior Hakeem Nicks (86.5 ypg).

The Tar Heels have not beaten Virginia Tech in four meetings since the Hokies joined the ACC, but UNC came close last season. The Tar Heels outgained the Hokies en route to a 17-10 defeat in Blacksburg.

Notes/Things to Watch:

Virginia Tech leads the all-time series 15-9-6, including a 35-10 win in 2006 in its most recent trip to Chapel Hill.

Virginia Tech has put together some impressive statistics since joining the ACC in 2004, but perhaps its most notable number is its 15-1 record in ACC road games. The Hokies’ lone ACC road loss came at Boston College in 2006.

The Hokies have been one-dimensional on offense this season, but they likely will need production from their passing game to defeat the Tar Heels. Virginia Tech enters this game 116th out of 119 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in passing offense (85.0 yards per game), the main reason the Hokies rank just 107th in total offense (273.0 ypg).

Virginia Tech is known for its success on special teams, but UNC has a good kicking game of its own. Tate enters this game just 135 yards shy of the NCAA record for combined kick return yards, freshman Jay Wooten made all three of his field-goal tries last week, and senior punter Terrence Brown is among the ACC’s best at his position.

The Tar Heels are seeking their first 3-0 start since 1997, when they began the season 8-0.

Key Player (Hokies) — Macho Harris, CB/WR

Harris, perhaps Virginia Tech’s best player, will be busy against the Tar Heels. UNC features two of the ACC’s top wideouts in Nicks and Tate, so Harris will be tested regardless of which player he covers. Harris also played some wide receiver last week, and he’ll see even more action there against UNC. He gives Virginia Tech a deep threat and play-making ability on the outside that it otherwise lacks.

Key Player (Tar Heels) — Brandon Tate, WR

Tate has been nothing short of spectacular this season. He leads the nation in all-purpose yardage (308.0 ypg) and already has a 100-yard rushing performance and 100-yard receiving performance to his credit. UNC must keep him involved, no matter how hard the Hokies try to take away his big-play chances.

North Carolina by 3