NC State-Virginia Tech game cap

N.C. State (4-1) at Virginia Tech (2-3)

Kickoff: 8 p.m., Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Va.

TV/Radio: ESPN, 101.5-WRAL

Virginia Tech’s strength: The Hokies rank 17th in the county in pass defense, allowing an average of 158 yards per game, and rank tied for eighth in the country with 12 takeaways.

Key theme: N.C. State’s offensive line struggled to control Louisville’s athletic front. Virginia Tech’s strength is its defensive front, and senior defensive end Dadi Nicolas is particularly good.

N.C. State’s running game depends on the success of its offensive line. Against Louisville, the Wolfpack couldn’t get going on the ground. Virginia Tech will try and take away junior Matt Dayes, who leads the Wolfpack with 522 rushing yards, and make quarterback Jacoby Brissett beat them.

The Hokies’ are susceptible to mobile quarterbacks, so Brissett might have to dust off some of his running moves. He has only had one effective running game, 43 yards at Old Dominion, thus far this season.

The return of quarterback Michael Brewer, from a collarbone injury, should give the Hokies a boost. The Wolfpack can’t afford to get off to another slow start. With Virginia Tech coming in off of two straight losses, N.C. State doesn’t need to give them a reason to believe.

Joe Giglio

This story was originally published October 8, 2015 at 4:34 PM with the headline "NC State-Virginia Tech game cap."