Last Updated on November 3, 2009 10:44 am by Anthony Rome
VA Tech at ECU Preview
Greenville, NC – After two consecutive losses, Virginia Tech is looking for some motivation. Facing East Carolina could help provide just that.
Trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak in six years, the visiting 22nd-ranked Hokies look to avenge a rare loss to the Pirates in a non-conference matchup Thursday night.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made Virginia Tech -12 point spread favorites (View College Football odds) for Thursday’s game (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 63% of bets for this game have been placed on Virginia Tech -12 (View College Football bet percentages).
On Oct. 10, Virginia Tech (5-3) beat Boston College 48-14 for its fifth straight win to remain in the national championship picture. However, after losing 28-23 at then-No. 19 Georgia Tech and being upset 20-17 at home by North Carolina last Thursday, the Hokies are looking for motivation with their national title hopes dashed and ACC championship game chances suddenly slim.
"I think the motivation is to come out here so you don’t feel like this again,” said Hokies linebacker Cody Grimm, dismissing a sixth consecutive 10-win season as a motivator. "Ten wins is one thing, but I don’t want to feel like this any more and the only way to do that is to win."
Virginia Tech hasn’t lost three in a row since dropping its final two regular-season games and falling 52-49 to California in the 2003 Insight Bowl. The Hokies were 5-3 at this point last year and went on to win five of six to finish 10-4.
That should be enough to give the Hokies a boost Thursday. If not, the memory of last season’s 27-22 upset loss to East Carolina in Charlotte, N. C., could help.
The Hokies had won six straight in the series, but the Pirates returned a blocked punt 27 yards for a touchdown with 1:52 left to stun then-No. 17 Virginia Tech in its season opener.
Though Virginia Tech leads the series 9-5, it should again be in for a challenge while making its first visit to Greenville since a 45-28 win Sept. 7, 2000.
"You get into some of these big-game atmospheres and it’s good to see our players understand the type of effort it’s going to take," said East Carolina coach Skip Holtz, whose team has won six in a row at home.
"There is an awful lot of buildup and excitement for this game, venue and atmosphere. I think Greenville will come alive a little bit Thursday. We’re really excited to not only play Virginia Tech, but to play the team at home."
Virginia Tech couldn’t hold a 14-0 lead against the Pirates last year and failed to keep a late three-point, fourth-quarter lead against North Carolina last week. Ryan Williams’ fumble led to the Tar Heels’ game-winning field goal as time expired and dropped the Hokies to 3-2 in the ACC.
Like his teammates, Williams – a freshman who’s rushed for 930 yards and 10 TDs – knows he must move on.
"There’s no reason to dwell on it. I can’t take it back," Williams said. "I can’t change what happened. Thursday, I’ll be the same old guy and I’ll be ready to play."
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor was sacked three times and did not throw a touchdown pass last Thursday after tossing at least one in six straight games and five over his previous three contests. Virginia Tech was held to 256 yards – its fewest since totaling 155 in a season-opening loss to Alabama.
Defensively, the Hokies allowed 181 yards on the ground after giving up a season-high 309 against Georgia Tech. Virginia Tech allows 154.1 rushing yards per contest.
"I firmly believe we are a good football team," coach Frank Beamer said. "But the problem has been being consistently good. We have to continue to work to get that consistency."
East Carolina (5-3) rushed for 158 yards against Virginia Tech last season and a season-high 275 in a 38-19 win at Memphis last Tuesday. The Pirates, first in Conference USA’s East Division, average 149.4 yards on the ground.
Dominique Lindsay rushed 22 times for 139 yards and Patrick Pinkney threw for 216 yards and a touchdown while running for two more scores as East Carolina won for the fourth time in five games.
Pinkney was 19 of 23 for 211 yards with a touchdown through the air and one on the ground against Virginia Tech last season.
East Carolina’s 31-17 loss at then-No. 24 North Carolina on Sept. 19 snapped a three-game winning streak against ranked opponents.
Posted: 11/3/09 10:45AM ET