Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Pete Fiutak

North Carolina vs Virginia Tech Prediction, Game Preview

North Carolina vs Virginia Tech prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 5, Saturday, October 1


North Carolina vs Virginia Tech How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 1
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
How To Watch: ACC Network
Record: North Carolina (3-1), Virginia Tech (2-2)
Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

Roundup: Overrated, Underrated, What it all Means
CFN 1-131 Rankings | Bowl Projections
What 12-Team Playoff Would Look Like
Hot Seat Coach Rankings after Week 4
Think, Know, Believe: Football Smack Talk
Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

North Carolina vs Virginia Tech Game Preview

Why Virginia Tech Will Win

So what’s going right with the Hokies?

It’s going to be a process before things start to come together under new head coach Brent Pry, but the defense hasn’t been bad.

West Virginia was balanced and moved with ease in the 33-10 win last week, but overall the Hokie D has been great on third downs, the secondary has been solid, and the 218 rushing yards by the Mountaineers was the first time this year anyone has been able to move on the ground.

On the flip side, the North Carolina run defense has been abysmal. Everyone is getting fat running on the Tar Heels with Appalachian State, Georgia State, and Notre Dame combining for close to 800 rushing yards with six scores.

Virginia Tech hasn’t been able to run well so far, but it has to try.

NFL Expert Picks, Week 4

Why North Carolina Will Win

Yeah, Virginia Tech’s defense has technically been okay so far, but playing Old Dominion, Boston College, and Wofford had something to do with that.

The North Carolina defense might not know the season has started, but the offensive side is rolling with ease, it’s averaging 47 points per game, and it’s averaging over 500 yards per game.

Get up fast, make Virginia Tech have to crank up the passing game, and all should be fine. Hokie QB Grant Wells might put up some yards, but the offense isn’t converting off the decent drives.

– Schedules, Previews CollegeNFL

What’s Going To Happen

Can North Carolina finally have an easy game against an FBS team?

It’s the team’s own fault for not being able to do enough defensively, but Virginia Tech doesn’t have the pop to do much once the scoring starts rolling.

The Tar Heels will rely mostly on the ground game to start, and then Drake Maye and the passing attack will take over as the Hokie D gets picked apart.

CFN Expert Picks, Week 5

North Carolina vs Virginia Tech Prediction, Line

North Carolina 34, Virginia Tech 24
Line: North Carolina -9.5, o/u: 51.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
North Carolina vs Virginia Tech Must See Rating (out of 5): 2

Predictions of Every Game
Bowl Projections | Rankings
Schedules, Scores For All 131 Teams

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.