Florida State (1-5, 1-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) is set to face off against Duke (5-1, 1-1) this Friday at 7 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN2.
The odds from BetMGM have Duke favored by 3 points.
Historically, Florida State has maintained a strong lead in this matchup, boasting a 22-0 series record against the Blue Devils.
What’s at stake?
After experiencing their first defeat under head coach Manny Diaz, Duke is looking for a bounce-back performance following a week off. A victory would secure bowl eligibility for the Blue Devils by mid-October. Meanwhile, Florida State, the reigning ACC champions who began the season as favorites, are also coming off a bye week and desperately need a win to turn their season around.
Key matchup to watch is FSU’s run defense opposed to Duke’s rushing attack.
The Seminoles have struggled defensively, currently ranked last in the ACC and 109th in the nation, allowing an average of 182.3 rushing yards per game and 4.41 yards per carry. In contrast, Duke’s ground game holds the 15th position in rushing offense with 112.8 yards per game, benefitting significantly from standout graduate transfer Star Thomas, who has posted three impressive 100-yard performances, including a remarkable 166 yards against North Carolina.
Players to keep an eye on include FSU’s defensive back Shyheim Brown and Duke’s wide receiver Jordan Moore.
Brown has emerged as a key player for the Seminoles, blocking a 38-yard field goal against California and a 27-yarder against SMU, placing him among just five players in the FBS with two blocked kicks this season. He also played a crucial role in blocking the potential game-tying extra point in FSU’s thrilling win over LSU in 2022.
For Duke, Moore has established himself as their primary receiving threat, recording 30 receptions for 443 yards and three touchdowns, making him a vital component in the offense led by quarterback Maalik Murphy.
A few notable facts and figures:
This upcoming game marks the first time these teams will clash in Durham since their previous encounter in 2017, which FSU won 17-10—the only game in the series history with a single-digit outcome.
Last season, Florida State triumphed over Duke with a score of 38-20 at home.
The Seminoles’ sole victory this season came against California, where they narrowly edged out with a score of 14-9 on September 21.
Florida State has scored over 20 points in just one game this year, during their season-opening loss to Georgia Tech in Ireland (24-21). Head coach Mike Norvell boasts a solid record of 9-3 when coming off a bye week throughout his coaching tenure.
On a positive note, Duke has been impressive at home recently, with an 11-1 record over their past 12 home games, the only defeat being against Notre Dame.
Additionally, this season marks the first time since 2014-15 that Duke has commenced back-to-back seasons with a 5-1 record, a feat not achieved since the early ’50s (1952-53).