Duke vs Virginia - Thoughts & Game Notes

I was off the grid over the weekend getting some much needed Vitamin Sea and was not able to watch the Duke vs Kanas football game other than some highlights. Even with the loss, if you would have told me Duke Football would be 3-1 in its first 4 games of the season.. I would have gladly taken it. Granted in my preseason picks (see image below) I did have Duke going 4-0 but I also had them losing to Virginia. I am now starting to change my mind on some of these preseason game picks I made lol! I am also happy with where the program is at four games in so far of the Mike Elko era.

Up next this weekend is a matchup with Virginia in Wallace Wade Stadium with a 7:30 PM kickoff. This is the first ACC game for Duke on the schedule. Duke currently holds a 13 game ACC losing streak that they would love to break on Saturday night. This Duke team and fans haven't easily forgotten the 48-0 beat down in Charlottesville last season either. Duke has lost the last 7 games in the series vs Virginia with the last win over them dating back to 2014. Duke is past due for a win in this series and I think they will be able to pull it off Saturday night. Vegas currently has the line at -2.5 in Duke's favor and the over/under at 49.5 points. I think Duke covers the spread and pulls off the win in what is looking to be a very wet game from the rainfall.

My score prediction

Duke - 31

Virginia - 20

and I am taking the over 49.5 points in what could be a wet and sloppy game with fumbles if this weather pattern holds.

Keep reading below for Game Notes from Duke Sports Information

Duke returns to Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday for a matchup with ACC foe Virginia. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on RSN. Virginia leads the all-time series between the two schools, 40-33. In the last meeting on Oct. 16, 2021, Virginia used 528 yards of total offense to defeat Duke, 48-0, at Scott Stadium. Duke's last win over Virginia came on Oct. 18, 2014, when the Blue Devils held the Cavaliers to just three points in the second half and wide receiver Jamison Crowder caught eight passes for 99 yards en route to the 20-13 win at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. Last Saturday's game at Kansas marked the first time this season Duke trailed in a contest. It also was the first time the Blue Devils failed to score in a quarter (third) this year. In addition, it marked the first time since Sept. 14, 2019 at Middle Tennessee State that the Blue Devils didn't turn the ball over on the road. Sophomore quarterback Riley Leonard ranks first in the ACC and 17th nationally in pass completion percentage with a mark of 71.3 (72-of-101). The Fairhope, Ala., native also is one of only two league quarterbacks this season with two games with 320-plus yards passing (Sam Hartman, Wake Forest). Saturday's RSN broadcast will feature Tom Werme, James Bates, and Lyndsay Rowley on the call. The game can also be heard on the Blue Devil Sports Network from LEARFIELD through the Varsity app or goduke.com.

HOW TO FOLLOW Duke (3-1, 0-0 ACC) vs. Virginia (2-2, 0-1 ACC) Saturday, October 1, 2022 • 7:30 p.m. Durham, N.C. • Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium TELEVISION • RSN RADIO • Blue Devils Sports Network from LEARFIELD GAME NOTES • Duke Notes (PDF) • Virginia Notes LIVE STATS • GoDuke.com TWITTER • @DukeFOOTBALL

GAME NOTES In four of the last five years, Duke has started its opening four games with at least three wins. Its only blemish came during the 2020 season. The Blue Devils currently rank third in the ACC with 461.00 total yards of offense per game. Duke has gained 420-plus offensive yards in each game, including 500 yards against Temple. The Blue Devils also find themselves fourth in rushing (188.50) and fifth in passing (272.50) offense in the conference. After finishing the 2021 season last in the ACC in turnover margin, the Blue Devils are first in the league and tied for 11th nationally in the category with +1.50 turnovers per game. Duke is tied with Coastal Carolina, Michigan State and Virginia for a nation-leading seven fumble recoveries. OUTSCORING OPPONENTS The Blue Devils are outscoring their opponent 137-78. They are also outscoring their opponents in every quarter this year, including a 52-7 advantage in the opening frame. PANCOL ADDS DEPTH Senior WR Eli Pancol has compiled 224 yards on 10 receptions in four games this season and ranks second in the ACC, averaging 22.40 yards per catch. The Pendleton, Ind., native is 18 receiving yards away from setting a new season high. Against Northwestern, Pancol and QB Riley Leonard connected on a conference-long 81-yard reception, which were career marks for both players. BIG GAINS AND QUICK STARTS During sophomore QB Riley Leonard's opening four games of the 2022 season, he has registered 17 passes of 20-plus yards. Leonard is strong out the opening gate as well. The Fairhope, Ala., native is a combined 43-of-53 (.811) passing in Duke's first half, including a 18-of-19 (.947) mark in the first quarter. FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS Duke is tied with North Carolina for second in the league in fourth-down conversions with a mark of 66.67 (4-of-6). The pair trail Clemson's 1.000 percent (3-of-3). FUMBLE RECOVERIES The Blue Devils as a defensive unit have recorded seven fumble recoveries on the year, all by different players, to rank tied for first in the ACC and nationally. RED ZONE DEFENSE Duke has held its opponents to 9-of-12 (.750) in the red zone to rank tied for third in the ACC with Syracuse. STAND YOUR GROUND Duke has 11 players with double-digit tackles on the year, led by graduate student Darius Joiner (33), junior Jaylen Stinson (25), redshirt senior Shaka Heyward (21) and junior Dorian Mausi (21). The foursome make Duke one of four schools in the ACC with at least four student-athletes with 21-plus tackles on the year. During Duke's last outing at Kansas, Joiner compiled 10 tackles to lead all players. The Roanoke, Ala., native now has two double-digit tackles games on the year (14 at Northwestern) and 12 for his career. Joiner's 14 tackles ranks tied with three others for the most in the ACC for a single game this season. KICKOFF RETURN DEFENSE Duke is first in the ACC and eighth in the nation in kickoff return defense as its opponents have averaged just 13.00 yards per return. On the flip side, the Blue Devils are averaging 20.8 yards per return. NET PUNTING After four games in 2022, the Blue Devils are third in the ACC and 13th in the country in net punting with a mark of 43.30.