News & Observer | newsobserver.com | 2008 NCAA Men's Bracket

Come Christmas time, Butch Davis may want nothing more than the Virginia Tech game back.

After impressive back-to-back wins on the road at Miami (28-24) and home against previously unbeaten and 24th-ranked Connecticut (38-12), both without T.J. Yates at quarterback, the Heels head into the meat of their ACC schedule in good shape.

They’d be in even better shape if they had held onto that 17-3 lead against the Hokies, a game they lost 20-17.

Virginia Tech has won five in a row since the season-opening upset loss to East Carolina and has the inside track for the Coastal Division title. The Heels are going to need help to catch the Hokies and it’s possible that the Sept. 20 loss will keep the Heels out of the ACC Championship Game.

Not that they’d be complaining about a trip to the Peach Bowl — and there’s a lot of water yet to go under that particular bridge — but the what-if would still be hanging out there. The way they played Saturday, it sure looks that way.