North Carolina vs. Virginia Tech 2017 live stream: Start time and how to watch online

The Virginia Tech Hokies will host the University of North Carolina Tar Heels for their 38th matchup as ACC Coastal contenders. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN (live stream)

Normally, the Hokies and the Tar Heels are evenly matched talentwise. Both teams undergo similar recruiting years, and each team receives their share of the upcoming talent. However, due to an unfortunate season of injury, Larry Fedora’s Tar Heels have struggled offensively.

What this means for 14th ranked Virginia Tech is as such: If the Hokies get the job done on defense, they could give North Carolina nightmares at the line of scrimmage. The Hokies are aggressive on the defensive end, and North Carolina can expect a recurring blitz coming its way. The Tar Heels must focus on converting on third downs to contend with a red-hot Virginia Tech team.

The Tar Heels’ running back Michael Carter scored two rushing touchdowns in the third quarter, but their passing game just never got up off the turf and QB Brandon Harris operated below 50% complete and 100 yards, err well 50 for the entire game.

The upside is UNC found a little bit of a ground game, so if Carolina stands any chance against the Hokies they will have to make them respect the run and try their hand at play action.

The Hokies are coming off a bye week and will host the Tar Heels this Saturday. It should be a good opportunity for VT to keep pace with Miami and Virginia in the Coastal.

The AP Poll shows some serious movement in some sectors and some inexplicable lack of much movement in others. As we all expected Tech remains relatively stable, notching up one place to No. 14, but Clemson only drops 5 to No. 7 - even with Kelly Bryant taking a potential multi-game injury hit (and Bryant’s nearly their entire offense).

Virginia Tech cannot afford to look past UNC.

While North Carolina’s record is abysmal, to say the least, Virginia Tech has little room for error looking toward the end of the regular season. The history the two have includes numerous close matchups — not to mention North Carolina didn’t look terrible against Virginia last week. If the Hokies want a chance at claiming an ACC title, they need to take every week one step at a time.

It is not by chance the Hokies are favored by 21. As of right now, they are genuinely the better team. While I hope for an entertaining matchup on Saturday, I think Tech’s eighth-ranked defense will be too much for North Carolina’s struggling offense.