Line: Virginia Tech by 13.

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Series record: Virginia Tech leads 9-5.

Last meeting: 2008, East Carolina, 27-22.

The Hokies look to avoid their first three-game losing streak since 2003, and are clinging to a Top 25 ranking after climbing to No. 4. For East Carolina, it's a showcase game that gives the Pirates last chance this season to knock off one of college football's big boys, after September losses to West Virginia and North Carolina.

Virginia Tech tailback Ryan Williams vs. East Carolina's rush defense. Williams, a freshman who is averaging 116 yards rushing, matches up against a tough Pirates defense that has allowed only one 100-yard rusher this season.

Virginia Tech: QB Tyrod Taylor matched Michael Vick for second place among Hokies quarterbacks with 16 career rushing touchdowns, including two last week.

East Carolina: WR Dwayne Harris has emerged as the most versatile player on the depth chart, scoring in five of his last six games and has 1,054 all-purpose yards during that stretch.

Hokies are making their first trip to Greenville since Michael Vick led them to a 45-28 victory in 2000. ... East Carolina's final-moments victory in last year's opener was the Pirates' first in the series since 1992. ... Pirates' three-game winning streak against ranked opponents ended in September with a loss to then-No. 24 North Carolina. ... Since starting its 16-year run of consecutive bowl trips in 1993, Virginia Tech has lost three straight games just twice.