The Duke Football team will be trying to defeat the Virginia Tech Hokies for the first time in three seasons on Friday night in Blacksburg.
Blacksburg, Virginia has not been that kind to the Duke Blue Devils recently, especially the Blue Devils’ men’s basketball team.
The last time Mike Krzyzewski‘s crew won a game at Virginia Tech was in the 2014-15 season and Duke needed overtime to pull it out. The hoops team has lost three straight in Blacksburg.
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Virginia Tech has also caused trouble for the Duke Football team, dropping three straight to the Hokies, but the Blue Devils are 2-1 in the last three times traveling to Blacksburg.
The Hokies are 2-1 on the season, unconvincingly beating Old Dominion and Furman at home, while losing in the season opener on the road against ACC foe Boston College.
Duke is also 2-1 with an anticipated loss in the season opener to Alabama and wins against North Carolina A&T at home and on the road against Middle Tennessee.
Both teams had byes previous to this showdown and should be relatively healthy entering Friday night.
Hokies quarterback Ryan Willis is completing 64.6% of his passes this season, averaging 247 yards per game and throwing seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
Last year at Wallace Wade Stadium, Willis lit up the Blue Devils defense, completing 17-of-27 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns as Virginia Tech defeated a then No. 22 Duke team, 31-14.
The Blue Devils have been most effective this season when they are able to establish a rushing attach with quarterback Quentin Harris and running backs Deon Jackson and Brittain Brown.
Brown left the win over North Carolina A&T early due to an injury and did not play against Middle Tennessee State.
One player the Blue Devils could have back on Friday night is wide receiver Jake Bobo who injured his collarbone in the preseason and has not played yet this season but was dressed for the Middle Tennessee State game despite not getting in the game.
Duke will need to win this game based on its running game and defense as Lane Stadium is one of the toughest places to play in the ACC and in the entire NCAA.
Virginia Tech has not been impressive this season and Duke looked really good from the second half on in its first win of the season against N.C. A&T.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00pm EST on Friday night and can be seen on ESPN.
PREDICTION: Duke 27, Virginia Tech 23