Virginia Tech (5-5, 3-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) will face Duke (7-3, 3-3) on Saturday at 8 p.m. EST, broadcasting on ACC Network. The current betting odds favor Virginia Tech by three points.
The historical matchup between these two teams shows Virginia Tech with an advantage, leading the series 19-11. The stakes are high for both teams, as Virginia Tech is looking to secure a victory for bowl eligibility. Meanwhile, Duke aims to achieve eight wins for the third consecutive season, a feat that has only been accomplished once before in the program’s history.
A key factor in this game will be Virginia Tech’s rushing offense against Duke’s defense. The Hokies currently rank fourth in the ACC for rushing, averaging 185.3 yards per game, largely thanks to Bhayshul Tuten, who contributes an average of 105.7 yards and has scored 12 rushing touchdowns. Conversely, while Duke has established itself as a strong team for pressuring quarterbacks, their run defense falls at 13th in the ACC, allowing 149.3 yards per game. They have allowed a total of only 10 rushing touchdowns, putting them near the bottom of the league rankings for that category.
There are prominent players to watch from each team. For Virginia Tech, defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland stands out with his impressive performance, currently ranking second nationally with 13 sacks, which includes two games where he recorded four sacks each. He is just two sacks shy of breaking into the top five for most sacks in a single season in the Hokies’ history.
On Duke’s side, quarterback Maalik Murphy, a transfer from Texas, is making waves following his previous game against N.C. State, where he threw for 245 yards, scored two passing touchdowns, and achieved his first rushing touchdown.
In terms of statistics, Duke has only previously recorded three consecutive eight-win seasons from 2013 to 2015. The teams have clashed regularly since Virginia Tech joined the ACC in 2004, with their most recent meeting last November where Duke emerged victorious, winning 24-7. A win for Duke in this matchup would mark their first back-to-back victories against Virginia Tech since a streak from 1937 to 1951. This season, Virginia Tech has struggled on the road with a 2-3 record. They enter this game on a two-game losing streak, having dropped games against Syracuse and then against No. 17 ranked Clemson at home. Duke, on the other hand, has been strong at home, winning 15 out of their last 18 games there, boasting a remarkable winning percentage of .833.