Turkeys vs Rams

Without a doubt, this weekend's North Carolina vs Virginia Tech football game is high on the priority list for discussion. And we'll get to that. But first, your national news spin, courtesy of The Blue Team.

This commercial is no longer as funny to me.

Ok, and with that, we leave the financial crisis analysis to the people who actually know what they're talking about. Back to sports.

As a Carolina grad and Virginia Tech athletics employee of sorts, this Saturday's football game ranks high on the interest scale. Quick thoughts:

• Virginia Tech has the advantage of experience in games like this. The Hokies are great at going on the road and pulling the rug out from under an opponent. Over-hyped home teams and fans are a tasty treat to the Hokies. In my two previous years here, VT is 7-1 on the road in the league, including defeats at Wake Forest (prime-time ESPN2 game in 2006), at Clemson (ditto last year), and at UVA (last year for the ACC Coastal Division title). Though this year's squad is young, Tech has a culture about it that embraces a road game challenge. The last time Carolina played a home football game with legitimate hype on behalf of both teams (i.e. Carolina was not a huge underdog and pulled off an upset) was November 8, 1998 vs #2 FSU (I'm not counting the VT game in 2004 because the Heels were still a significant underdog in that contest).
• On the flip side, I think the Tar Heels have more margin for error. VT does not move the ball consistently and is still adjusting to having Tyrod Taylor in the backfield. There will be a number of new wrinkles this weekend I'm sure, but the Hokies do not have the ability to put a ton of points on the board with methodical, 80-yard touchdown drives. Carolina will have the home crowd amped up, and always has the ability to strike quickly via punt return, long pass, or Brandon Tate levitating.
• Turnovers will, as in every ball game, be vital in this contest. I'll go ahead and say the team with fewest turnovers wins the game, period. However, I have the feeling that this game will end up being a bit one-sided. Somebody will crack under pressure, cough the ball up, set up short field for the opposition, and give up easy points. Given the over-hyped home team, that might not bode well for Carolina.
• Special teams will also be a factor, as always when playing Virginia Tech. Macho Harris and Brandon Tate are two of the best return specialists in the nation and both teams have shown a penchant for blocking kicks this year (something Carolina has not done in ten years).
• Summary: Hokies win if they do not turn the ball over, control the clock with their ground game, keep Tyrod Taylor healthy and on the field, and get a defensive/special teams score. Heels win if they do not turn the ball over, contain Taylor and Evans running the football, use the running game to effectively set up the play-action pass, and feed off a sellout crowd in a positive manner.

Personally, I'll be wearing white. Totally neutral. But if you really want to know my allegiance, ask me to moon you.

Final Score: 26-13.