Thursday Night NCAA Football ESPN Game
North Carolina Tar Heels (4-3) at No. 13 Virginia Tech Hokies (5-2) -16.5 O/U 42
On Thursday night in Blacksburg the 13th ranked Virginia Tech Hokies host the struggling North Carolina Tar Heels. The Hokies still have a chance to play in a BCS bowl game, but they have to win the ACC title game and to get there they need some help since they lost to division rival Georgia Tech in their last game. The Tar Heels are really struggling, as they have lost 3 of their last 4 games to drop out of the top 25 and they gave up 30 points to Florida State in their last game. The Tar Heels can still play in a bowl game, but they have to get back to winning. A BCS game is out of the question since they are 0-3 in ACC play.
The Hokies have the nation’s 60th ranked offense and they are very well balanced with QB Tyrod Taylor, who ranks 4th in the nation in passer rating (159.7), and freshman RB Ryan Williams, who has rushed for 100 yards or more in 5 of the Hokies’ past 6 games. The Hokies will have to move the chains against a Tar Heels defense that ranks 7th in the nation. However, the Tar Heels’ D struggled in their last game against Florida State giving up 438 total yards including giving up 395 passing yards. The Tar Heels have 17 sacks this season so the Hokies’ offensive line has to protect Taylor and give him time to find his targets.
If the Tar Heels struggle on defense again they will be in major trouble, as their offense only ranks 114th in the nation. They are not strong at running the ball or passing the ball and if they get down early they do not have the offense to come back. QB T.J. Yates has more interceptions than TD’s (8 to 7) and the Tar Heels are only averaging 174.6 passing yards per game. The one offensive weapon that the Hokies have to worry about is RB Shaun Draughn (481 yds 1 TD). The Hokies’ defense ranks 31st in the nation and if they can contain Draughn they will be in good shape.
In a few trends for this game the Tar Heels are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games, have lost 15 of their last 21 road games, and the Hokies are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games at home.
Bettors beware, as the Tar Heels are only 1-4 ATS this season. The Tar Heels have not won a game against a ranked team away since 2001.
Dont Agree? Let us Know. We love hearing your thoughts and picks!
Loading ...
