Virginia (3-5, 2-2 ACC) will look to win its second straight conference game as the Cavaliers welcome N.C. State (3-4, 2-2 ACC) to Scott Stadium tomorrow at noon.
N.C. State's fortunes this season have fluctuated significantly. N.C. State coach Chuck Amato was on the hot seat after the Wolfpack lost consecutive non-conference games to Akron and Southern Mississippi. Then, however, N.C. State reeled off two home wins over Boston College and Florida State and there was talk in Raleigh of reaching the ACC Championship game. But now, after two straight losses to Wake Forest and Maryland, the Wolfpack is just hoping to attain bowl eligibility and Amato is once again hearing whispers about his job security.
N.C. State's main problem has been turnovers. Wolfpack quarterbacks-- Marcus Stone for the first three games and Daniel Evans for the past five -- have thrown nine interceptions and the team has lost six fumbles.
N.C. State's strength is its backfield. Sophomore halfback Andre Brown and sophomore fullback Toney Baker have combined for 876 yards and eight touchdowns thus far this season.
"Offensively, this is certainly the best two-back stable of runners that we've faced," Virginia coach Al Groh said. Brown "is a size back, but he's really a make-them-miss back. If he were a baseball pitcher, he'd be throwing a lot of curveballs and sliders. Toney Baker just comes at you fast and furious."
A win over the Wolfpack would keep Virginia alive in the ACC Coastal Division race. The Cavaliers currently stand in third place, one game behind Georgia Tech in the division standings. Miami and Virginia Tech are also in the mix at the top of the division.
Parity has been the name of the game this year in the ACC. Aside from Clemson, which established itself as the favorite to win the ACC title by beating Georgia Tech 31-7 last weekend, there is not a team in the league this year that could truly be considered among the nation's elite.
While Virginia likely will not be favored going into any of its remaining games, all of its upcoming opponents -- N.C. State, Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech -- appear vulnerable in different ways. With a win over the Wolfpack tomorrow and a bit of luck down the stretch, the Cavaliers could make things interesting.
"It's one of the things that is a great benefit of how the conference is lined up right now," Groh said. "The whole emphasis is on winning your division. Regardless of what precedes it, if you can win your division, you're in the final game. And if you're in the final game, whether you're 5-6 or 6-5 or 7-4 or whatever it is, if you're in the championship game and you can win it, then you're in the [BCS]."
Groh is excited about what this means both for those on the field and others in the stands.
"It certainly adds a lot to it and keeps things interesting for teams and for fans," he said. "It certainly should be motivating for teams."
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