The Virginia football team has faced two teams with Carolina in the name already this season. When the Hoos travel to North Carolina on Saturday, the stakes will be considerably higher for the noon kickoff.

Since the splitting games the first two weeks of the season against Coastal Carolina and North Carolina State, UVA has reeled off 5 straight wins to sit at 6-1 on the season. The Hoos remain undefeated at 3-0 in the ACC standings along with Georgia Tech (4-0) and SMU (3-0). That means the chances of playing in the ACC Championship Game remain alive. With the trip to face the Tar Heels, 0-2 in conference play, up next, this is an important hold serve road game on the schedule.

Playoffstatus.com runs postseason possibilities for teams. It currently projects that GT and UVA have the best chance to play in the conference title game in Charlotte on Saturday, Dec. 6. The Yellow Jackets have a 75% chance to make the game and a 41% chance to be the champion, while the Cavaliers have a 49% chance to make the game and a 23% chance to be the champion. Georgia Tech is halfway through its ACC games with one non-conference game remaining against Georgia.

Other ACC teams with percentages still in the double digits to make the conference title game are Louisville (21%), SMU (18%), Miami (12%), and Duke (13%).

UVA carries the No. 16 ranking in The Associated Press poll into the matchup. This is its highest ranking since 2007 and its first time being ranked against UNC since 2005. Virginia has not won a game when ranked 16th or better since 2004.

Cavalier coach Tony Elliott wants his team to block out all of the talk, whether that’s the teams’ records, the ranking or the chances at the ACC title tilt, and focus on a Carolina team that he believe is getting better on film.

“Really just getting the guys to block out the noise and see the film for what it really is,” Elliott said. “I mean, that's contrary to what reports may be saying in the media. I mean that's a football team that's getting better, that has some good personnel, that's close to winning a game last week. So that's what I want the guys to focus on to just trust your eyes and and focus on your preparation. Because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter who we play. From here on out, it doesn't matter who we line up against. It's all about our preparation and how we approach the game so that we can be in the best physical, mental, and emotional state to perform at the end of the day at the highest level. And really challenging our guys to go chase our best game. Because that's really what it's about. Each week, you're trying to play your best. And week after week. And every game is going to have different circumstances and situations associated with it.”

After needing a comeback win against Washington State at home last week, Elliott may not have much trouble getting his team’s attention on that approach. From the fan side of the house, some Virginia fans have expressed worries about The South’s Oldest Rivalry matchup with North Carolina during the week.

Here are some of the message board threads on the game ahead:

Fan(s) Of The Week

Go Hoos Go!

Virginia Cavaliers

Student Fan(s) Of The Week

Students have continued to pack the hill this season for the Wahoos.

Virginia Cavaliers

Feature Photo Of The Week

Jahmal Edrine posted 102 receiving yards in the Virginia win against Washington State.

Virginia Cavaliers Jahmal Edrine