NC State, despite a tough loss last weekend, will be favored at home against an under-achieving Virginia team. One of the main reason the Cavaliers are 2-6 without a conference win is turnovers.

NC State has forced 16 turnovers while Virginia has forced just four. The Wolfpack has turned the ball over 18 times (nine fumbles, nine interceptions) while the Cavaliers has turned it over 20 times (eight fumbles, 12 interceptions).

“I think the last couple years since Jon Tenuta has been here, I think he’s helped a lot in creating havoc,” State coach Tom O’Brien said. “I think my first, second, third year, we didn’t intercept any passes. We have to learn to play our coverages, learn to do what we’re coaching. We’ve been able to do that. Now we are intercepting the ball, knocking it out.”

He said often interceptions aren’t the quarterbacks fault. On the other hand, “Fumbles are a matter of concentration work and personal pride,” O’Brien said. “It’s something we spend a lot of time practicing, making sure we don’t fumble the football. I think that’s something that can be corrected, fumbling the football.”