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BLACKSBURG, Virginia (Ticker) -- Fourth-ranked Virginia Tech could get its first true test of the season Saturday when its faces improving Syracuse in the Big East Conference. Virginia Tech (6-0, 3-0 Big East) is fifth in the first weekly Bowl Championship Series standings, but the Hokies have yet to face a ranked opponent and likely will not until the season finale against Miami. Virginia Tech plays its next three games on the road against Pittsburgh, Temple and Virginia. After winning its first five games by an average of 38.4 points, Virginia Tech managed a 34-20 victory over Boston College on October 13. But the game was not as close as the score indicated as the Hokies built a 34-0 lead before allowing three late scores. Virginia Tech limited Boston College running back William Green to 74 yards on 21 carries, the only time he has been held under 100 yards this season. Virginia Tech, which already has recorded three shutouts this season, leads the nation in scoring defense (7.3 ppg), rushing defense (42.5 ypg) and total defense (185.6 ppg). Syracuse (6-2, 3-0) appeared headed for a long season after losing its first two games to Georgia Tech and Tennessee, but the Orangemen turned it around with a victory over Auburn and have won six in a row. R.J. Anderson, who recently replaced Troy Nunes as the Orangemen's starter, completed 12-of-20 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 45-3 rout of Temple. James Mungro has rushed for 757 yards and eight touchdowns on 155 carries for Syracuse, but he will have his hands full against Virginia Tech. The Hokies have won two straight against Syracuse to even the all-time series at seven wins apiece. Virginia Tech struggled to a 22-14 victory last year at the Carrier Dome, but blasted the Orangemen, 62-0, in the last meeting in Blacksburg in 1999. That loss matched Syracuse's worst defeat since a 62-0 setback to Princeton in 1912.
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