Preview: Blue Devils look to improve their post season standing against dangerous Virginia Tech team
Duke football team won sixth game to qualify for the post season. The Blue Devils play Virginia Tech at Wallace Wade Stadium at noon on Saturday. VirginiaTech is on a six-game losing streak and has been eliminated from the ACC. Last season the Hokies beat Duke by 31 in Blacksburg. This is the 30th meeting between the teams. Virginia Hokie's coach believes his team will provide a challenge for his players. He believes they have an identity and are very athletic and disruptive. They blitz more than any defense so far this year. Duke's head coach Mike Elko believes their team can handle the challenge.
Duke is listed as between 9 and 10 points favorite against Virginia Tech. The Blue Devils have a 5-3 record against the spread this season. DeWayne Carter is tied for second nationally in fumble recoveries (3) and tied with Bob Grupp and Matt Daniels for fourth in forced fumbles (7). Shaka Heyward made 11 tackles against Boston College for his 11th career double-digit tackle performance. Riley Leonard is 159-of-247 passing for 1,851 yards with 11 touchdowns.
Duke (6-3, 3-2 ACC) and Virginia Tech (2-7, 1-5 ACC), meet in Durham, N.C. on November 12, 2022 at 12 pm at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Duke's offense is not going to blow anyone away through the air, but it's efficient and effective. Riley Leonard has thrown only 26 passes of 20 yards or more this season. The running game is effective and productive. Virginia Tech's defensive front will try to take advantage of the Duke offensive line. Last week the Hokie's quarterback Grant Wells threw two interceptions and fumbled in the losing effort against Georgia Tech. The team averages less than a field goal per scoring opportunity this year. It's a lot of talent on the team, like the defense, and mistakes have been magnified at times.
Duke has a good record through nine games. Virginia Tech has had a bad turnover ratio compared to the Blue Devils' +14. Georgia Tech is one spot higher than Duke in the turnover margin table. The Hokies will pose problems for Duke at the line of scrimmage.
