Prior to their big showdown in Chapel Hill, NC, the No. 25 ranked Virginia Tech Hokies (3-1, 1-0) and No. 17 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (4-1, 2-0) entered last week un-ranked. But with a total of 10 teams in the AP Top 25 all losing, it made room for UNC and the Hokies to get enough poll votes to enter the Top 25.
NEITHER TEAM IS PLAYING MIAMI, BUT THEY WILL BE PLAYING IN A HURRICANE
North Carolina enters the Top 25 after holding off then ranked No. 12 Florida State, while the Hokies’ break the Top 25 for the first time since 2014. This is also the first time the Hokies and Tar Heels will face each other while both ranked.
With the two programs being being ranked, it would make sense that it would be the big topic going into Saturday. Wrong. The biggest news everyone is concerned about it Hurricane Matthew, bringing with it the fear of damaging weather.
A news station in Raleigh, North Carolina has been keeping tabs on the landfall of Matthew for the VT/UNC game and said it would hit early before Noon.
The ACC had this comment to say: “Every effort will be made to play the games as long as the safety of players, teams and fans is not compromised.” They went on to say, “The conference and its institutions continue to monitor the weather forecast for this weekend’s games.”
HOKIES AND TAR HEELS MATCH-UP
If the game is played on Saturday, both UNC and the Hokies will have their hands full with the other respective offense.
Hokies’ defense coordinator, Bud Foster compared Virginia Tech and North Carolina, “It’s like we’re playing against ourselves in a lot of ways. We’ve gotta be good with our angles and finishing plays.”
Foster didn’t shy away of comparing the Tar Heels to Tennessee on the offensive side of the ball. “Where they’re better, other than Tennessee is their offensive line. We’ve gotta stop the run and can’t allow an array of explosive plays,” Foster said.
No matter the weather — Virginia Tech will be ready. According to multiple reports, the Hokies have been practicing with water-drenched balls and will do whatever they need to win.
“Coach said, ‘We can play in the parking lot for all I care.’ Rain, sleet, snow, we’re just trying to get the win,” said Virginia Tech quarterback Jerod Evans.
In order for the Hokies to make noise and rise up in the AP Top 25, it all starts with Jerod Evans. “I make sure I’m paying attention to what I need to focus on. I don’t focus on opposing offenses,” Evans said.
BY THE NUMBERS
North Carolina Offense: Ranked nationally at number 24, with a total of 2,421 yards, 484 per game. That equals out to 1,741 through the air (348.2 passing yards per game) and 680 rushing yards (136 rushing yards per game). They have scored 202 points with the most being against Illinois with 48.
North Carolina Defense: Ranked nationally at number 110, allowing 2,294 yards this season. They have allowed 459 yards per game with 222 passing yards allowed and 236.8 yards on the ground per game. North Carolina’s defense tends to struggle against high-powered offenses allowing 31 points per game.
Virginia Tech Offense: Ranked nationally at number 90, allowing a total of 1,796 yards. Most of that has been through the air, as they average 253.5 passing yards per game. Their running game started slow in the first two games hurting themselves with turnovers, but the last two weeks, with last week being a bye week, they have tallied 196 yards on the ground per game.
Virginia Tech Defense: Ranked at number five seems usual for the Hokies defense led by defensive coordinator Bud Foster, and it starts in the passing defense. The Hokies have only allowed 150.8 yards through the air per game with their rushing defense being just as stellar allowing only 113.5 yards per game. Virginia Tech’s defense averages out to only allowing 18.8 points per game with the most points giving up was to Tennessee who scored 45. Since then, the Hokies haven’t allowed more than 17, shutting out Boston College and holding ECU to 17.
DECIDING FACTOR
After coming off a bye week, the Hokies will need to stay focused against North Carolina who have two big ACC wins in a row. The Tar Heels defeated Pitt 37-36 and held off an FSU rally with a 37-35 victory, thanks to true Freshman Nick Weiler’s 54-yard field goal.
Through 38 games, the Tar Heels lead the series 20-12 with their being six ties. Last year the Tar Heels ruined Frank Beamer’s going-away party with a 30-27 win over the Hokies in overtime. Look for both teams to come out firing first, but they will slow it down on the passing game thanks to Hurricane Matthew. It will be a wet, rainy and windy game in Chapel Hill.
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