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UNC-Virginia Tech scouting report

Thursday, October 29, 2009

(Updated 11:43 am)

By Jeff Mills
Staff Writer

Who: North Carolina (4-3, 0-3 ACC) at Virginia Tech (5-2, 3-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Where: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Va.

TV: ESPN Radio: WTHZ-94.1, WBAG-1150, WLXN-1440

Watch for: The TV show. Despite its recent struggles — North Carolina has lost three of its last four games, all against ACC opponents — the Tar Heels remain an outstanding draw. Need proof? Last Thursday night’s 30-27 loss against Florida State, the first nationally televised weeknight game played in Chapel Hill, drew a 9.5 rating in the Triad TV market. That’s the highest rating ever in this market for a college football game in ESPN’s history. Those viewers saw Carolina blow a 24-6 lead in the second half. The Heels’ vaunted defense surrendered 438 total yards, while QB T.J. Yates had a miserable night, completing 12 of 25 passes for just 64 yards and getting sacked three times by the ACC’s worst defense. Now they’re on national TV again, this time at No. 13 Virginia Tech. The ACC’s preseason favorite hasn’t played the dominant defense Hokies’ fans are accustomed to (fifth overall, ninth against the run in the 12-team league), but freshman RB Ryan Williams has emerged as the league’s leading rusher (119.1 ypg, 10 TDs).