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Virginia (5-6, 3-4 ACC) vs. Virginia Tech (7-4, 4-3 ACC)
Game 12 Saturday, Nov. 29 Noon
Lane Stadium/Worsham Field (66,233) Blacksburg, Va.
Surface: Grass
Series vs. VT: Virginia Tech leads 47-37-5
Last Meeting: 2007 (VT 33, UVa 21)
Television: ESPN
Radio: Virginia Sports Network
Satellite Radio: XM Radio Ch. 190-192, Sirius Radio Ch. TBA
School Websites: VirginiaSports.com, HokieSports.com
Television Coverage
ESPN is televising the game to a national audience.
Dave Pasch (play-by-play) and Andre Ware (analyst) have the call.
Radio Coverage
All Virginia games are broadcast on the Virginia Sports Network, originating at WINA/WWWV in Charlottesville.
Dave Koehn (play-by-play), Frank Quayle (color analysis) and Tim Sherman (sidelines) have the call.
Things You Need to Know
This is the first time Virginia has squared off with an unranked Virginia Tech team since 1997 (34-20 UVa win).
UVa is 5-1 this season when winning or tied in turnover margin.
The Cavaliers’ schedule is rated the toughest in the nation this week according to the Sagarin ratings UVa’s opponents have the second-best winning percentage in the country.
Clint Sintim has 23 career tackles, including five sacks, in three career games against Virginia Tech.
Sintim ranks fourth nationally in sacks this year. The national leader in sacks among linebackers, he needs one sack to reach the top 10 in ACC history.
Virginia-Virginia Tech Rivalry
Virginia Tech leads the all-time series 47-37-5 in a rivalry that dates back two centuries and has won eight of the last nine meetings.
The series began in 1895 with UVa gaining a 38-0 win in Charlottesville.
Virginia’s most recent victory was a 35-21 win at home in 2003.
The Hokies hold a 29-19-2 advantage in Blacksburg, and have won the last four in Lane Stadium UVa last won in Blacksburg in 1998 (36-32).
Current UVa assistant head coach and defensive backs coach Steve Bernstein was the secondary coach at Virginia Tech from 1978-84.
32 is Virginia’s Magic Number
Scoring a lot of points against the Hokies means good things for the Cavaliers.
Virginia has scored at least 32 points in each of its last seven series wins dating back to 1989.
Rare Game Against Unranked Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech is unranked going into a game vs. Virginia for the first time since 1997 a span of 10 games.
Virginia won the 1997 game, 34-20.
It also marks the first time UVa has faced off against an unranked Hokies team in Blacksburg since 1992 (41-38 UVa win).
Groh Faces Hokies as Player, Coach
Head coach Al Groh has a long history against Virginia Tech as both a player and coach.
A Cavalier gridder during his undergraduate days in the 1960s, he was a member of the 1964 squad that posted UVa’s only win over Tech between 1957-1970. Virginia defeated the Hokies 20-17 at home that season.
As the head coach at Wake Forest, he led his Demon Deacons to wins over Tech in 1982 (13-10 in Blacksburg) and 1983 (13-6 in Blacksburg).
Virginia in Season Enders
This game is the Cavaliers’ final game of the regular season.
UVa is 44-70-4 all-time in regular-season finales and has lost its last four.
This is the third straight year and the 14th time in the last 18 seasons Virginia has closed the regular season against the Hokies.
Commonwealth Cup Up for Grabs
The winner of this game claims the Commonwealth Cup for the next year.
After holding the trophy following wins in 1997 and 1998, the Cavaliers have taken it just once since then (2003) with the Hokies winning eight of the last nine meetings.
The award was started for the 1996 game between the two state foes, with the Hokies receiving the trophy for the first time with a 26-9 win.
2007: Virginia Tech 33, Virginia 21
Sean Glennon threw for 260 yards and the other half of Virginia Tech’s quarterback rotation, Tyrod Taylor, ran for two touchdowns, as the No. 8 Hokies won, 33-21, in 2007. The Hokies also got 147 yards rushing from Branden Ore and six catches for 147 yards and a touchdown from Eddie Royal.
No. 16 Virginia led late in the second quarter before an interception by Brandon Flowers with 40 seconds to go turned into a three-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that left the crowd of 61,711 stunned. The Hokies outscored UVa 10-0 in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
Mikell Simpson rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown for UVa, while Jameel Sewell went 15-for-24 for 121 yards passing and also rushed for two touchdowns.
UVa Players vs. Virginia Tech
Several of Virginia’s players particularly on defense have seen substantial game action against Virginia Tech.
In three games, LB Clint Sintim has 23 tackles (five for loss) and four sacks against the Hokies. He had three sacks and 10 tackles last year vs. Virginia Tech.
Senior S Byron Glaspy also has started three games vs. Virginia Tech and has racked up 22 tackles.
Interestingly, TB Cedric Peerman has never had a rush against Virginia Tech, although he has returned several kicks.
More UVa leaders:
Jon Copper – 18 tackles, 1 TFL
Antonio Appleby – 11 tackles, FF
Kevin Ogletree – 2 rec., 31 yards
Staton Jobe – 2 rec., 22 yards
Turnovers Create Headaches
Virginia is 5-1 when winning or being tied in the turnover margin this season, but 0-5 when losing it.
UVa’s only loss when winning the turnover margin was the OT defeat to Miami.
Virginia is +5 in turnover margin in its wins, and -12 in its losses.
Turnovers have been the root of UVa’s current losing streak UVa has 10 turnovers to its opponents’ five.
The eight turnovers in the last two games have led to 27 points.
Virginia Schedule Rated Among Nation’s Best
Regardless of which service you check, the UVa strength of schedule is one of the toughest in the country.
Virginia currently has the toughest schedule in the FBS according to the latest Sagarin ratings.
Virginia’s opponents this year boast a combined winning percentage of .650, best in the ACC and second in the nation behind only Georgia.
Nine of UVa’s 11 FBS opponents are bowl eligible.
Sagarin Strength of Schedule Ratings
1. Virginia, 77.24
2. Duke, 76.98
3. Wake Forest, 76.62
4. NC State, 76.25
5. Texas, 75.59
NCAA Toughest Schedule Ratings (based on opponent winning pct.)
1. Georgia, .6667
2. Virginia, .6500
3. Texas, .6446
Arkansas, .6446
5. Clemson, .6281