2010 Virginia Tech Football: Duke Game Guide

Virginia Tech Hokies (5-2, 3-0) vs. Duke Blue Devils (1-5, 0-3)

Time: Noon EDT
Date: Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010
Place: Lane Stadium/Worsham Field (66,233), Blacksburg, Va.
TV: ACC Network
Radio: VT ISP, XM TBA, Sirius TBA

Duke: The Blue Devils are coming off a 28-13 loss at home to Miami in which they committed seven turnovers and managed just 3.4 yards per play ... Duke is one of two ACC teams (Wake Forest) allowing more than 400 yards per game ... Duke does average 399 yards per game on offense and 393 in conference games ... the Blue Devils are led by first-year starting quarterback Sean Renfree, who is throwing for over 270 yards per game ... Renfree has a 57 completion percentage, averages 6.6 ypa and has thrown 10 touchdowns and 14 interceptions ... he has thrown 10 interceptions in his last three games ... Renfree struggled against Miami and was pulled at the end of the game for freshman Brandon Connette.

Trends: Virginia Tech has won five consecutive games after losing its first two ... Duke has lost five consecutive games after winning its season opener ... the Hokies have won 15 of their last 17 home games and eight of their last nine home conference games ... Duke has lost four consecutive ACC road games and seven consecutive conference games overall.

History Lesson: The Hokies are 10-7 all-time against Duke ... Duke won the first six meetings, but the Hokies have won 10 of the last 11, including the last nine ... Tech is 6-0 against the Blue Devils under Frank Beamer and 5-0 against them in Lane Stadium ... the last meeting in Blacksburg was a 14-3 win for the Hokies in 2008 ... the teams combined for nine turnovers and 16 punts ... the game essentially ended when Macho Harris returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown with a little over a minute remaining.

What to Expect

• Expect Duke to at least try to run the ball. The Devils still pass more than they run, but not nearly as much as last season, when they passed almost 50 percent more than they ran.
• Expect any of three backs to get the majority of the carries for Duke. The Blue Devils could go to Desmond Scott, Josh Snead or Jay Hollingsworth. All three have been inconsistent due to offensive line struggles, but Scott is the guy I've been most impressed with.
• Expect the Hokies to have more success through the air. Duke is allowing 8.5 yards per attempt, last in the ACC and a full yard more than the No. 11 team, Wake Forest. Of course, the Blue Devils also allow nearly five yards per rush attempt, second-worst in the conference ahead of Wake.
• Expect points. Lots and lots of points.

Hokies Win If: They don't hit the snooze bar for the Noon start.

Blue Devils Win If: They get an early lead, force turnovers and get consistency from the run game.

Dot-dot-dots: Tyrod Taylor's 292 passing yards against Wake Forest were the second-most of his career ... he threw for a personal-best 327 last year at Duke ... Saturday's game against the Deacs ended with the Hokies in the red zone, which snapped their streak of 22 consecutive red zone conversions, including 17 touchdowns ... after missing his first career field goal attempt, Chris Hazley has made 10 in a row.