[3:30 PM] #25 Virginia Tech @ #17 North Carolina

Who will WIN this matchup?

#25 Virginia Tech Hokies (3-1)

@ #17 North Carolina Tar Heels (4-1)

 

Current odds:

Virginia Tech Hokies: (-111)

North Carolina Tar Heels: (-101)

 

• ESPN simulations have Virginia Tech as 55.1% favorites to win the game.

• 65% of sports bets are currently on North Carolina to win as (-101) underdogs.

• After consecutive storybook endings, North Carolina probably could use a little breather, but the Tar Heels are not going to get it. Florida State, the 37-35 victim last week on Nick Weiler’s 54-yard field goal as time ran out, was just the first of a three-game stretch that likely will determine the postseason fate for the Heels, who have won four in a row since dropping their opener to Georgia.

• First-year coach Justin Fuente’s Hokies have recovered from a big loss to Tennessee in Bristol and have won their last two game to improve to 3-1 on the season overall and 1-0 in ACC play. They were idle last week as the Tar Heels improved to 2-0 in league play.

• The Hokies are No. 10 in pass defense in giving up just 150.8 yards a game through the air. That goes right at the strength of a North Carolina offense that has averaged 342 yards a game passing behind junior quarterback Mitch Trubisky (76.0 completion percentage and no interceptions in his last 240 pass attempts going back to 2014) and a talented and deep receiving corps.

• Senior wide receiver Ryan Switzer has a team-high 47 catches for the season, but he has plenty of support from junior Austin Proehl (19 receptions, 269 yards) and seniors Bug Howard (18-261) and Mack Hollins (13-252).

• Tech’s last contest as a ranked team came on Sept. 13, 2014. The Hokies moved into the top 25 after a big road victory over Ohio State, then promptly lost at home to East Carolina the following week.

 
StreakSmarts Pick: #17 North Carolina Tar Heels

Confidence: 5/10

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