Virginia Tech vs. North Carolina: Complete Game Preview
It wasn't as easy as expected, but the Virginia Tech Hokies ended their two-game losing streak on Saturday with a 35-17 win over Western Michigan. Next, the Hokies travel to North Carolina to resume their ACC schedule.
Tech enters this week's game with a record of 3-2, 0-1, in ACC play. The Tar Heels, coming off of two straight losses, are 2-2 on the season after losing last week's ACC opener at Clemson.
Virginia Tech leads the all-time series, 19-11-6, and has won eight of the previous 10 meetings. Last time the teams met in Chapel Hill—in 2012—the Tar Heels embarrassed Bud Foster's defense to the tune of 533 total yards, including 339 yards on the ground.
Giovani Bernard's 262 rushing yards were the most ever given up by Tech to a single player.
Both teams desperately need a win, as a 0-2 conference record would severely damage both the Hokies and Tar Heels' chances at ACC Coastal Division supremacy.
- When: Saturday, October 4, 2014
- Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ACC Network
- Radio: Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network. Here is a complete list of stations by area.
- Spread: The Hokies are presently two-point favorites, via Odds Shark.
Virginia Tech Keys to Victory
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1Limit Michael Brewer's Turnovers
The junior quarterback has been a turnover machine this season. In five games, Brewer has nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has a streak of four straight games with at least two interceptions.
The best way to eliminate Brewer's turnovers is limiting his opportunities. Offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler must put Brewer in a position for more high-percentage throws. However, Brewer has shown a tendency to force balls into tight windows that his arm won't quite allow him to.
If Brewer turns the ball over on Saturday, Virginia Tech will not win.
Run the Football
The Hokies' running game finally got on track Saturday. Unfortunately for Tech, the opponent was Western Michigan. VT ran for over 300 yards in the win, but lost freshman running back Shai McKenzie for the season with a torn ACL. McKenzie was second on the team in rushing.
While McKenzie's loss stings, sophomore Trey Edmunds is slowly working his way back up the depth chart after last season's injury. Fellow freshman Marshawn Williams will see the bulk of the carries moving forward. Williams is currently the team's leading rusher.
Limit Big Plays in the Passing Game
The Tar Heels have virtually no running game this season. However, they are prolific in the air. UNC ranks No. 29 in passing offense and behind quarterback Marquise Williams, the Heels are a big-play team. Williams gave the Hokies trouble last season.
VT looks like it will be without cornerback Brandon Facyson for the remainder of the season due to a leg injury. That puts even more pressure on players like Chuck Clark and Donovan Riley. Kendall Fuller is one of the best in the country, but Tech has had major issues defending the pass over the last few weeks.
North Carolina Keys to Victory
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Unleash T.J. Logan
The Hokies had all sorts of trouble stopping Gio Bernard in 2012. However, the Tar Heels have struggled to run the ball in 2014. The solution is simple: unleash sophomore running back T.J. Logan.
One of the fastest, if not the fastest player on the team, Logan has just 25 rushing attempts on the season. He's third on the team in rushing and is also an electric return man. If the Heels expect to establish a running game, Logan needs to be heavily involved.
Run Marquise Williams
If UNC studied Virginia Tech the film against Ohio State, it would notice how often Buckeyes' quarterback J.T. Barrett burned the Hokies on quarterback runs. Williams isn't quite as fast as Barrett, but he is a terrific athlete and had 56 yards on the ground against Tech last year.
Williams could be UNC's best hope for getting its ground game going against the Hokies.
Make Virginia Tech One-Dimensional
The Hokies have had trouble with turnovers in 2014. Brewer has 10 interceptions and will force things. UNC needs to pressure him early in the game and mistakes will likely follow. Shutting down Virginia Tech's running game by stacking the box with extra defenders will do this.
The biggest question is, can the Tar Heels trust their cornerbacks in one-on-coverage?
Virginia Tech Players to Watch
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Quarterback Michael Brewer
The Hokies' offense lives or dies by Brewer this season. If he's on, the Hokies can score lots of points. However, if he's turning the ball over—which he frequently does—the Hokies let opponents hang around.
Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer is an intensely loyal individual, but if Brewer continues turning the ball over, then the legendary coach has no choice but to turn to senior Mark Leal.
Brewer needs a turnover-free game.
Running Back Marshawn Williams
After losing McKenzie for the season, Williams is now the man in Virginia Tech's backfield. Currently the team's top rusher, Williams has been a surprise since fall camp. He has made an impact each game and went over the century mark for the first time in his young career last Saturday.
With Edmunds still working his way back and McKenzie gone, Williams should see at least 18-20 carries.
Cornerback Kendall Fuller
Entering the season, many around the country felt Virginia Tech had one of the top secondaries—if not the best—in all of college football. However, the Hokies have struggled against the pass since the loss to East Carolina in Week 3.
Some of those issues can be traced to Brandon Facyson's injury. Some of the issues were the inconsistent play of the cornerbacks replacing Facyson and senior safety Detrick Bonner.
One player who hasn't struggled is sophomore Kendall Fuller. Fuller usually draws the toughest assignment each week and thrives. Look for Fuller to be matched up with Quinshad Davis this weekend.
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North Carolina Players to Watch
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Quarterback Marquise Williams
Williams is having a solid junior campaign. He's completing over 63 percent of his passes and is second on the team in rushing. He'll be facing his stiffest test this weekend when he takes on Virginia Tech. Bud Foster will try to confuse him with multiple looks and sending six or seven rushers on occasion.
Williams has experience against the Hokies which will serve him well. Also, as good as Tech's defense is, it's still not quite the same unit as it was in 2013. If Williams plays well, UNC will be tough to beat.
Running Back Elijah Hood
Yes, Carolina needs to get T.J. Logan more involved in the offense, but not at the expense of freshman Elijah Hood. The freshman is starting to come on. Last week against Clemson, Hood ran 13 times for 71 yards and a touchdown. It was no coincidence that UNC had its best offensive output of the season.
Hood is the type of runner that gets better with more carries. Head coach Larry Fedora must find ways to get Hood and Logan on the field at the same time.
Wide Receiver Quinshad Davis
As inconceivable as it may sound, Virginia Tech is vulnerable against the pass. In 6'4" junior Quinshad Davis, the Tar Heels have the ultimate weapon against Tech's secondary.
Unfortunately, Davis has been quiet thus far in 2014. Through four games, Davis has only 13 catches for 142 yards. He needs to get better separation as he has the physical attributes that no other Carolina receiver possesses.
Ryan Switzer may be UNC's top receiver this season, but Davis remains the most dangerous. Two years ago, it looked like Davis was going to be the next great North Carolina receiver.
What They're Saying
5 of 6The Hokies offense could be in for a big day this Saturday, facing a North Carolina passing defense ranked 108th in the country and a scoring defense ranked No. 123. But Brewer will not fall into the trap of taking UNC's defense too lightly, per Andy Bitter of The Roanoke Times:
"They’ve gone through some struggles the last two weeks. But you can’t really fall into that trap, because you watch them play on film and they’re extremely athletic, they run really well, are very aggressive. You give them life and you give them confidence and you’re in for a long day.
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Fedora just wants his team to focus on this week instead of illustrating how big this game could mean in the wide-open Coastal Division, per Andrew Carter of The News & Observer:
"I haven't really talked about that. We have to get ourselves right right now. And really it's not about who we play, it's still about our room and getting ourselves right. If we go out and we play hard and we take care of our job, then we've got a chance. If we don't, if we continue to make the mistakes that we're making mentally, then it'll be hard.
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Prediction
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The one opponent both teams have in common thus far, East Carolina, defeated each of these teams. The way in which the Pirates did it was vastly different each time, though.
ECU got off to a fast start against the Hokies before a touchdown late led the Pirates to the upset. Against Carolina, the Pirates won handily, 70-41.
What's that say about each of these teams?
Carolina's leaky defense will continue to struggle and while its offense will keep it close, it won't be enough in the end. Brewer will only turn the ball over once this weekend, and the Hokies will hold off the Tar Heels with a late score.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 35, North Carolina 28
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