Fighting Gobbler Predictions: Virginia Tech Hokies vs North Carolina Tar Heels
By Tim Thomas
Oct 5, 2013; Blacksburg, VA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Larry Fedora shakes hands with Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Frank Beamer after the game. The Hokies defeated the Tar Heels 27-17 at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The Virginia Tech Hokies have a big ACC Coastal game today in Chapel Hill, North Carolina as they take on the North Carolina Tar Heels. Both teams lost their ACC openers and are looking to avoid a 0-2 start in the ACC Coastal with Duke last year being the first Coastal team ever to win the ACC Coastal after starting 0-2.
Now, here are the predictions from Fighting Gobbler for the showdown in Chapel Hill.
Joe Vitulli
The Hokies return to ACC play after defeating Western Michigan last week in yet another game marred by disappointing quarterback play from Texas Tech transfer Michael Brewer. Brewer has more picks than touchdowns and is riding a streak of four straight games with at least two interceptions. The Hokies will need him to show better ball security in this game.
Both offenses could be in for a big day as each team’s defenses have been less than stellar this season. The common denominator between the two ACC rivals is that both teams have lost to East Carolina this season. The Hokies let ECU get ahead early before catching up to them but a late touchdown sealed the win for the Pirates.
Against North Carolina, ECU put on an offensive showcase winning a shootout 70-41. The Hokies need to stop turning the ball over and avoid getting into a slugfest with a talented offense like UNC’s. I think they pound the ball with the running and win a close game. Hokies 31 Tar Heels 28
Dwight Lester
This week, the Hokies travel to Chapel Hill for an ACC clash with the Tar Heels of North Carolina. The Hokies are coming off a solid win versus Western Michigan. If the Hokies want any chance at climbing back into the race for the ACC championship, they will need to have a solid performance for the second week in a row. The Hokies seem to have a tough time with the Tar Heels every year as the Heels manage to shred Bud Foste’rs defense in one way or another.
The Tar Heels come into the game on much of the same footing as the Hokies, 0-1 in conference and looking to not get themselves in an 0-2 hole. The Hokie defense is very susceptible to the big play and the Heels have a quarterback that can create these big plays. Marquise Williams is a very capable signal caller and could take advantage of the depleted Hokie defensive line.
The injury bug has bitten the Hokies hard in the past weeks and the offense and defense will have to be sharp in order to over come these losses. This game will end up like most games the Hokies will play this year, tight until the very end. The Hokeis find their lost running game and on the back of Marshawn Williams, the Hokies control the 4th quarter and pull this one out on a late field goal. The Hokies win 24-21, 4-2 and 1-1 in the ACC Coastal, still in the hunt folks.
Tim Thomas
The Virginia Tech Hokies and the North Carolina Tar Heels both lost their ACC openers and will be pushing to avoid having n 0-2 start in the ACC Coastal. At the beginning of the season, both of these teams were two of the favorites in the ACC but one of these teams will have an uphill climb after this game.
Michael Brewer has struggled the last few weeks but this is a chance for redemption for the Virginia Tech signal caller and that is what I expect him to do. Brewer will have a big game against the Tar Heels and give the Hokies a great chance to win. Virginia Tech’s defense will also rise to the ocassion with the secondary having its best game in a few weeks against a power conference opponent.
This seems like it could be a very close game but I get the feeling that the Hokies will come out fired up and ready to pull off a big win. In front of a sellout crowd in Chapel Hill that will include a decent amount of Hokie fans, Virginia Tech will get a statement win and take down the Tar Heels by a final score of 35-20.
So what do you think about this game. Will the Hokies win or will North Carolina hand Virginia Tech a second ACC loss?