Cavaliers Return Home, Face North Carolina Saturday

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Game Details
Venue: David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium
Capacity: 61,500
Playing Surface: Grass
Series vs. UNC: UNC leads, 56-54-4
In Charlottesville: UVa leads, 24-21
Last Meeting: 2009 (UVa, 16-3)

Webcast: ESPN3.com
Radio: Virginia Sports Network (affiliates)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 214, XM 192

Live Stats: Click here for the link to the LiveStats page. Note: Link available 30 minutes before kickoff. Allow 1-2 minutes for it to load at the start.
Rosters: Virginia North Carolina
Game Notes: Virginia North Carolina
Statistics: Virginia North Carolina

115th Renewal of the South’s Oldest Rivalry
• North Carolina holds a 56-54-4 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1892. There is a difference in the series record between the two schools because of the game in 1956 that North Carolina forfeited for using an ineligible player.
• The Cavaliers have faced the Tar Heels more times than any other school – Virginia Tech is next at 91 games.

Cavaliers Have Dominated Series of Late
• The Cavaliers have won four straight, seven of the last eight meetings and 10 of the last 12.
• Virginia posted a 16-3 win at UNC last year; in the teams’ last game in Charlottesville in 2008, the Cavaliers won 16-13 in OT (the first overtime contest in series history).
• UNC has not won in Charlottesville since 1981 (17-14), losing 14 straight times; in that time the Cavaliers have won six times in Chapel Hill.
• The Cavaliers have held UNC to 20 points or fewer in each of the last five meetings.
• UNC holds a 29-12-3 advantage in Chapel Hill; Virginia is 24-21 all-time against UNC in Charlottesville.
• Since 1982, Virginia is 20-7-1 against the Tar Heels.

Last Five Meetings:
2009 Virginia 16, at North Carolina 3
2008 at Virginia 16, North Carolina 13 (OT)
2007 Virginia 22, at North Carolina 20
2006 at Virginia 23, North Carolina 0
2005 at North Carolina 7, Virginia 5

The South’s Oldest Rivalry
• This is the 115th meeting in the long history of the Virginia-North Carolina series, the South’s oldest rivalry.
• The rivalry is tied for the fifth longest in Football Bowl Subdivision history and was the seventh series in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision history to reach 100 meetings with the 1995 game.
• The two schools have met every season since 1919 and there have been only four seasons since 1900 when they did not meet (1906, 1909 and 1917-18, when football was postponed at both schools because of World War I).

The Most Offense Typically Wins
• One of the factors that can be used to predict a winner of this game is looking at the team with the most rushing yards and total offense.
• Since 1940 the winning team has outrushed the loser 54 of 67 times, with one game featuring the same yardage for both. (UVa outrushed UNC, 106-39 last year).
• Similarly the winning team has had more offense 54 times and been outgained just 13 times since 1940.
• The loser has outgained the winner just six times since 1975, but it has happened four times in the last 10 years, including 2007 and 2008. (In both instances above the 1956 (forfeit) and 1984 (tie) games aren’t included.)

Cavaliers Hold UNC Offense in Check …
• One of the keys to UVa’s recent success against UNC has been an ability to keep the Tar Heel offense in check.
• Since 1979, North Carolina has scored more than 27 points just twice (1997, 2001). In contrast, the Tar Heels topped 27 points seven times between 1970-78.
• Also since 1979, the Tar Heels have managed to score more than three touchdowns only twice (when they scored six in 1997 and four in 2002).

… on the Ground, In Particular
• North Carolina’s rushing offense is another telltale sign of predicting a winner. The Tar Heels have averaged 238.8 yards in their last six wins dating back to 1983 but have averaged just 120.5 yards in their 20 losses since then (a tie in 1984 is not included).
• The Virginia defense has been even better against the run since 1993, holding the Tar Heels to an average of 113.1 yards rushing per game, while winning 13 of the last 17 meetings.
• Since 1996, UNC has scored just six rushing touchdowns with two coming in 1997. In contrast, Virginia has scored 25 times on the ground since then.
• In the last 14 games, UNC’s offense has scored 22 touchdowns, with nine coming in two games (1997, 2002), while the defense has scored five touchdowns (all on interceptions).

Turnovers Also Make Difference
• Since 1982, the Cavaliers are 15-2-1 when committing fewer turnovers than the Tar Heels. (The losses occurred in 1995 and 2001, while the tie was in ‘84).
• Over the last two years, North Carolina has committed six turnovers, while UVa has none (three each year).
• On the other hand, North Carolina is 4-2 when committing fewer turnovers.
• There have been four games since 1982 where each team committed the same number of miscues and Virginia has won three (1985, ‘88, 2003).

Homecomings at Virginia
• Saturday is Homecomings at UVa.
• Virginia has a 43-40-2 record all-time in Homecoming games dating back to 1923, but the Cavaliers have been strong of late.
• UVa has lost just three times in Homecoming games since 1991, going 16-3 in that stretch and winning by an average of more than 20 points per game.
• Last year UVa defeated Indiana, 47-7, on Homecoming.
• The Cavaliers’ lone losses since 1991 were in 2000 (Clemson, 31-10), 2006 (Western Michigan, 17-10) and 2008 (Miami, 24-17 OT).
• UVa has only played UNC on Homecoming one time previously – a 17-14 win in 1983.

How Cavaliers Have Fared vs. North Carolina
• Noting some of the current Virginia players’ top performances vs. North Carolina:
• Marc Verica, in a start in 2008 against UNC, was 24-for-38 for 217 yards. Last year, in relief of starter Jameel Sewell, he was 3-for-3 for 12 yards.
• Matt Conrath was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his play last year – he had four solo tackles and three passes batted down at the line of scrimmage.
• Robert Randolph was the ACC Specialist of the Week after the UNC game last year after going 3-of-3 on FG attempts.
• Kris Burd had two receptions for 30 yards last year.
• Jared Green had two receptions for 13 yards in 2009.
• Steve Greer had seven tackles, including two TFL, in the win last year.
• Chase Minnifield had an INT last year and also has four career tackles.
• In two games Corey Mosley owns seven tackles, while Nick Jenkins has five tackles.
• Ras-I Dowling owns six tackles in three career games.

For full game notes, click on the link at top of page