ACC Football: Virginia Cavaliers Season Predictions (Part 2)

The Pirates have a brutal schedule against teams like Virginia Tech, West Virginia and N.C. State all before this game, so they will certainly have a great deal of experience. 

Patrick Pinkney had a solid passing performance the last time these teams did battle, but their victory really came from the ground where they scored four touchdowns and racked up over 200 yards.

Both of these teams have a shown a wonderful ability to win close games.  The Cavaliers won five games by two points or less last season.  That is an amazing accomplishment but…it also means they’re due.

RESULT: ECU 34, UVA 28

 

Game 7: vs. UNC: Same Script, Different Cast?

SET-UP: Virginia needed a great pass deflection from Nate Collins and a successful challenge of a field goal call to hold on to beat the Tar Heels last season.  This year, many expect UNC to be the trendy team to contend in the Coastal Division and possibly reach the ACC title game.

Of course, if they want to accomplish this, they must beat a Virginia team who has not lost at home to the Tar Heels since 1981. 

The Cavaliers have beaten North Carolina by an average margin of 15 points at home, since Groh has taken over, including a 23-0 beatdown in 2006.

Still that was then, what about now?

PREDICTION: T.J. Yates had a very solid outing last time these teams met, throwing for over 300 yards and almost single-handedly bringing the Tar Heels back from a big deficit.  Not bad for a freshman. 

Adding the versatile Greg Little to the mix in the backfield will help even more for UNC.  In other words, if Carolina is ever going to beat UVA in Charlottesville, now is the time.

Still, Lalich actually had his best ACC performance against the Tar Heels going 7-for-10 and avoiding contact.  Peerman also had a monster game, rushing for 191 yards.  I think he can have just as much success this time around. 

I think that little bit of experience will help Virginia but this may not be enough.  A young and talented UNC squad will still be riding high after a possible victory over Notre Dame at home.

The road contest is right in the middle of a four-game home stand for the Tar Heels and Butch Davis will have them ready to come out strong.

We’ll see just how good Lalich is in a fourth-quarter drive.

RESULT: UNC 27, UVA 21

 

Game 8: at Georgia Tech: Stings Like A Bee.

SET-UP: A new era for the Yellow Jackets, as Chan Gailey was handed his walking papers last season.  Groh certainly has done a good job of getting other ACC coaches fired. 

When Virginia miraculously took out GT last year at home, it changed the course of the season for both teams.  That game was decided by the great defense of Long and Fitzgerald and a timely touchdown pass from Sewell to Koch in the fourth-quarter.

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