UNC vs Va Tech football gameday guide: How to watch on TV, betting line, more
North Carolina’s game with Virginia Tech will feel at least seven percent of normal thanks to the state allowing that percentage of fans to attend in Kenan Stadium. Out of the 3,500 people — including an allotment of 1,000 tickets for students — expected to attend, there are a few seat fillers that will draw coach Mack Brown’s attention more than any other.
“I’m buying six cutouts for my grandkids, and we’re going to put them in the stadium (for Virginia Tech),” Brown told reporters on a video call. “They were so excited. I said you all will be at every game now and we’re going to have you a good seat, a good presence, and I’ll be able to wave at them before the game.”
It’s only the Tar Heels second home game of the season because the Charlotte game scheduled for Sept. 19 was canceled when too many 49ers offensive linemen where put in contact tracing quarantine. The state did not allow any fans back during their home opening win over Syracuse. The policy has changed to allow seven percent of capacity for open air stadiums that seat 10,000 or more.
How to watch on TV: UNC vs Va Tech football
Saturday’s game will be broadcast on ABC (WTVD-11) at noon.
College football betting lines: Tar Heels are favored
As of Saturday morning, North Carolina was a 3-point favorite, according to espn.com. The over/under was 57.5.
Game Notes for UNC vs VT football:
* Seeing Triple Part I: Virginia Tech could use up to three quarterbacks against the Heels — Hendon Hooker, who has not played yet this season due to COVID-19 quarantine. Braxton Burmeister, an Oregon transfer who started the first two games; and Quincy Patterson II, who led the Hokies to their six overtime win over UNC last season.
* Carolina ranks 14th in the ACC in penalty yards per game. It’s 93.5 yard average is only better than Florida State’s 95.3-yard average.
* UNC safety Trey Morrison’s interception and return for a two-point conversion that sealed last week’s 26-22 win over Boston College technically does not count as an interception in the statistics. That means the Tar Heels have recorded one turnover so far, which was Gio Biggers interception against Syracuse.
*Seeing Triple Part II: Offensive coordinator Phil Longo said the Heels reviewed three different Virginia Tech depth charts because its defense has so many players unavailable in its first two games. Ultimately, Longo said Carolina’s game plan would be catered to the Hokies’ scheme, not the personnel.
* UNC quarterback Sam Howell registered just four runs of 12 yards or more all of last season when he was discouraged from scrambling because of the lack of depth at quarterback. Howell’s already halfway to equaling his total with two runs of 12 or more against Boston College including a 20-yarder.
* The Hokies have probably been hit harder by COVID-19 than any other school in the league. They had two games postponed before beginning the season on Sept. 26 with a win over N.C. State. In last week’s win over Duke, they played without 21 players and two coaches who were being quarantined.
* Virginia Tech running back Khalil Herbert averages 12.4 yards per carry, which leads the nation.
UNC football vs Va Tech: the numbers
Records: No. 8 UNC 2-0 (2-0 ACC); No. 19 Virginia Tech 2-0 (2-0 ACC)
UNC offense: 28.5 ppg | 432 ypg | 264 passing ypg | 168 rushing ypg
Virginia Tech defense (allowed): 27.5 ppg | 398 ypg | 259 passing ypg | 139 rushing ypg
Virginia Tech offense: 41.5 ppg | 491 ypg | 172 passing ypg | 319 rushing ypg
UNC defense (allowed): 14 ppg | 277.5 ypg | 223.5 passing ypg | 54 rushing ypg
UNC vs VT football: key matchups
UNC RUN GAME VS. VIRGINIA TECH RUN DEFENSE
Quarterback Sam Howell showed off his high school scrambling skills last weekend, picking up a few third-down conversions and 49 rushing yards (not including sacks) against BC. Add in Michael Carter (16 carries for 121 yards) and Javonte Williams (11 for 57), and UNC had a 176-yard day on the ground.
The Hokies’ run defense got off to a great start in its opener, holding run-heavy N.C. State to just 3.3 yards per carry on 42 attempts. They slipped up a bit against Duke, though, allowing both of the Blue Devils’ running backs (39 yards, 27 yards) and their quarterback (22) to break off long solo runs.
UNC PASS GAME VS. VIRGINIA TECH PASS DEFENSE
With an excellent rushing attack behind him and defenses zeroing in on UNC’s deep ball, Howell has shifted into a take-what-they-give-you approach. Not that it’s hurt the Tar Heels. The sophomore has been efficient and good for a few highlight plays each game, and he’s spreading the ball around, too.
Virginia Tech hasn’t faced a quarterback of Howell’s stature yet, but its pass defense has been decent — especially considering it was down its top five defensive backs last week. Along with three interceptions, the Hokies have gotten a lot of help from their pass rush here: 13 sacks, tied for second in the country, and four players with at least two sacks each.
VIRGINIA TECH RUN GAME VS. UNC RUN DEFENSE
Since Army and Air Force are option teams, Virginia Tech grades out as the country’s top conventional rushing offense (319 yards per game). That starts with Herbert, of course, but Rutgers transfer Raheem Blackshear has also been solid for the top-ten scoring offense. VT utilizes motion jet sweeps and shotgun power runs to keep its wide receivers and quarterbacks involved on the ground, too.
North Carolina has faced the sixth fewest total rush attempts in the country (54), which has certainly helped its averages. But there’s a reason teams aren’t running against the Tar Heels’ experienced front seven — they get shut down early, they get behind and they have to play catch-up. It’s as much a compliment as it is an anomaly.
VIRGINIA TECH PASS GAME VS. UNC PASS DEFENSE
In last year’s six-overtime thriller, UNC got a very long look at VT quarterbacks Hendon Hooker and Quincy Patterson II. For now, the Hokies are rolling with a third: Oregon transfer Braxton Burmeister, who hasn’t been asked to do much in the air (16 of 36, 269 yards, one touchdown and one pick).
North Carolina ended up defending a lot more passes (56) than it expected last weekend. The Tar Heels are fully expecting VT to go run heavy — but they thought Boston College would do the same and must stay ready for adjusment. One injury to keep track of here: Storm Duck, UNC’s top corner, is banged up. If he doesn’t play — the team will update his status pregame — VT could pick on his replacement.
UNC SPECIAL TEAMS VS. VIRGINIA TECH SPECIAL TEAMS
UNC’s special teams have been fine outside of the kicking game, where Grayson Atkins hasn’t shown much range yet. Last week, he missed a 47-yard field goal that would have put UNC up 27-16 against Boston College. Instead, the score stayed at 24-16 with 5:46 left, and UNC’s defense had to save the day.
Herbert, Virginia Tech’s all-purpose workhorse, returned a kick 83 yards to set up a touchdown last week and averages 39 yards per return. That sets up a battle with UNC kickoff specialist Jonathan Kim, who has 11 kickoffs and 11 touchbacks this year. VT kicker Brian Johnson has made 16 straight field goals — coincidentally, his last miss was against UNC — and the Hokies muffed a punt last week.
UNC INTANGIBLES VS. VIRGINIA TECH INTANGIBLES
Simply put, head coach Mack Brown wants to see more turnovers. Since Morrison’s two-point return didn’t count as one, and Boston College dove on a Tomari Fox strip-sack fumble, the Tar Heel defense officially has just one takeaway in two games. The concept of “tipping it and stripping it” has been a focus in practice this week. Can UNC, with a -3 turnover margin to date, turn things around there?
Virginia Tech has been hit hard by coronavirus contact tracing protocol this season, with 23 players out against N.C. State and 21 out against Duke, plus multiple coaches. Yet the Hokies are still 2-0 under head coach Justin Fuente. That unpredictable depth chart will be a factor again Saturday — plus, the Hokies may trot out a different starting quarterback. Coaching at VT, Fuente is 4-0 against UNC.
UNC football schedule / results
Week 1 — UNC 31, Syracuse 6
Week 2 — UNC 26, Boston College 22
Oct. 10 — Virginia Tech at UNC, noon, ABC
Oct. 17 — UNC at Florida State, 7 p.m.
Oct. 24 — N.C. State at UNC, TBD
Oct. 31 — UNC at Virginia, TBD
Nov. 7 — UNC at Duke, TBD
Nov. 14 — Wake Forest at UNC, TBD
Nov. 27 — Notre Dame at UNC, TBD
Dec. 5 — UNC at Miami, TBD
Dec. 11 — Western Carolina at UNC, 7 p.m.
Va Tech football schedule / results
Week 1 — Virginia Tech 45, N.C. State 24
Week 2 — Virginia Tech 38, Duke 31
Oct. 10 — Virginia Tech at UNC, noon, ABC
Oct. 17 — Boston College at Virginia Tech, 8 p.m.
Oct. 24 — Virginia Tech at Wake Forest, TBD
Oct. 31 — Virginia Tech at Louisville, TBD
Nov. 7 — Liberty at Virginia Tech, TBD
Nov. 14 — Miami at Virginia Tech, TBD
Nov. 21 — Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh, TBD
Dec. 5 — Clemson at Virginia Tech, TBD
Dec. 12 — Virginia at Virginia Tech, TBD
ACC Network / ACC football TV schedule
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
Louisville at Georgia Tech, 7 p.m., ESPN
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
N.C. State at Virginia, Noon, ACC Network
Virginia Tech at UNC, Noon, ABC
Duke at Syracuse, 12:30 p.m., ESPN3 (online only)
Pittsburgh at Boston College, 4 p.m., ACC Network
Miami at Clemson, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Florida State at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m., NBC
This story was originally published October 9, 2020 at 8:15 AM.