2010 Virginia Tech Football: Wake Forest Game Guide

Virginia Tech Hokies (4-2, 2-0) vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-4, 1-2)

Time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
Date: Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010
Place: Lane Stadium/Worsham Field (66,233)
TV: ESPNU
Radio: VT ISP, XM 190, Sirius 212

Wake Forest: The Deacs are coming off back-to-back heartbreaking losses at home to Georgia Tech and Navy ... in both games, they gave up touchdowns with less than a minute to play ...after attempting just 50 passes in the previous three games, Wake QB Tanner Price attempted 53 passes against Navy ... Price returned to action after missing the Georgia Tech game after suffering a concussion against Florida State ... the Deacs have used four quarterbacks this year and Price has looked best at both throwing and leading Wake's typical option attack.

Trends: Virginia Tech has won four consecutive games while Wake Forest has lost four consecutive games ... Wake Forest has lost nine of its last 10 road games with the one win coming Nov. 28, 2009 at Duke ... Virginia Tech has won 14 of its last 16 home games.

History Lesson: The Hokies are 22-11-1 all-time against Wake Forest, including 2-0 under Frank Beamer and 4-4 at Lane Stadium ... Tech has won three in a row, including the only two meetings since it joined the ACC ... this is Wake Forest's first trip to Blacksburg since 1983, when it won 13-6 ... the Demon Deacons have won the last two meetings in Blacksburg.

What to Expect

• Expect more zone-read option from the Hokies. They've started running it more and more and it's also been increasingly more effective. Teams now have to respect Tyrod Taylor's ability to take off with the ball on those option plays.
• Expect the Hokies to continue to feed Andre Smith in the red zone. Smith has become a machine inside the red zone and is one of the main reasons for their improvement in it.
• Expect the Hokies to have success running the ball. Wake has faced two consecutive flexbone option teams in Georgia Tech and Navy. Their defense has to be tired going into this week's game.
• Expect Wake Forest's offense to be more balanced with Price. Price proved he's a capable passer against Navy, which will expand Wake's offense in addition to its option attack out of pro and I formations.

Hokies Win If: They run the ball consistently and stop Wake on third down.

Demon Deacons Win If: They control the clock with their option game while keeping Tech off balance through the air and force turnovers on defense.

Dot-dot-dots: The win against Central Michigan made Taylor the winningest quarterback in Virginia Tech history with 27 ... the Hokies were 0-for-8 on third downs against Central Michigan, their worst effort since 2003 when they were also 0-for-8 against Connecticut.