BLACKSBURG -- The oddsmakers have established Virginia Tech as a hefty 13-point road favorite over Virginia in Saturday's regular-season finale.

That said, don't even mention the betting spread to Frank Beamer. Frankly, Tech's football coach doesn't want to hear it.

"The old saying that you can throw the record books out for a game like this, and I think you can," Beamer said Monday. "You look at last year [a 17-14 Tech victory in Blacksburg] and that was a four-quarter game, and we were lucky to win that thing. We're playing at their place and know we'd better get ready to play our very, very best."

Certainly, both teams are heading in opposite directions.

The 14th-ranked Hokies (8-3, 5-2 ACC) have won three straight games, and with a victory Saturday and a triumph in their bowl game, will finish with a sixth consecutive double-digit win season that would likely vault them into the Top 10 in the final polls. Meanwhile, Virginia (3-8, 2-5) has lost five straight and will be looking to avoid its first nine-loss season in 27 years.

Tech has thoroughly dominated the series lately, winning the past five meetings and nine of the past 10. The average score in those 10 games: Tech 28.9, UVa 14.8.

After his Tech clubs started 1-5 vs. UVa, Beamer is 12-4 since. That includes a 7-1 mark against the Cavaliers under Al Groh, who may be coaching his final game at UVa.

"Oh, we've just been on a good run," responded Beamer, when asked how he accounts for his success against Groh. "Some good players, been on a good run, and that's the way it is in sports, I think.

"Certainly, they do things right up at Virginia. I've got respect for their program, I've got a lot of respect for Al and for their coaching staff. We've just been fortunate.

"But I don't think that has anything to do with this Saturday. I think it's a different year, different teams, different personnel, and we'd better get ready to play."

Tech's three-point victory last year at Lane Stadium has been the only contest in the past 10 meetings decided by less than 12 points. The Hokies trailed 14-7 at halftime.

"I think you just put on the video from last year," Beamer said. "It's going to get down to being a battle. They've had some tough luck, but I know how they're going to play this week so we'd better get ready to play ourselves."

Defense on roll

Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster predicted at midseason that his unit would improve the rest of the way. Well, he was right.

The Hokies have held foes to 252.7 yards per game in their current three-game winning streak. The hot run has vaulted Tech to 13th in the country in total defense (300.5 ypg). The Hokies also rank 13th in scoring defense (13 ppg), 10th in passing defense (165.2) and sixth in pass defense efficiency. Tech's defensive numbers could get another strong booster shot against an UVa attack that ranks 118th in total offense.

And the offense ...

Meanwhile, the unit of oft-maligned Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring has started to make an upturn in the numbers game.

The Hokies have averaged 420 yards in the three-game run and rank 60th in the nation in total offense (379.6). While it's not eye-popping by any means, it's a vast improvement from the past three seasons in which Tech's offense has ranked 99th or worse in the department. Tech ranks 18th in rushing (198.1) and 37th in scoring (30.45).