Hokie ClubLooking to secure bowl eligibility with just one more win, Virginia Tech eyes a key ACC victory when it meets Duke inside Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday evening. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, with the game airing on ACC Network.
Exploiting A Weakness
Though Duke’s defense has been a major reason why it finds itself 7-3, the offense at times has failed to impress.
Quarterback Maaliq Murphy has been a nice piece in his first season suiting up for the Blue Devils. But as a whole, the offense hasn’t exactly been where they’ve wanted it to be.
Duke currently sits at 110th nationally in total offense so far this year, putting up just south of 337 yards per game and ranking 14th in the ACC.
On top of that, the Blue Devils are 123rd nationally in terms of running the ball, averaging under 100 yards on the ground a game and failing to reach 1,000 yards as a team (996).
To compare, even after missing or being limited in the past two games, Tech star running back Bhayshul Tuten’s put up 951 yards on the ground so far in 2024.
That sets up a key matchup on Saturday, with the Hokies’ defense needing to get after Duke’s offensive unit and hold the Blue Devils in check to pick up a victory on the road.
Turnover Tug of War
It’s no secret that taking care of the football is one of the key elements to emerging victorious at any level of football – and on Saturday in Durham, that’ll be no exception.
Duke creates more takeaways than nearly anybody in the country, forcing 23 turnovers so far this season. That’s good for fourth nationally – and the most in the ACC.
On the flip side, Tech has held its own in 2024. The Hokies will need to continue protecting the ball to limit the Blue Devils’ key strengths when it takes this field this upcoming weekend.
BeamerBall Is Back
Special teams at Virginia Tech continue to be a longstanding tradition well after the days of legendary head coach Frank Beamer – and when you look at the past two weeks, that never has been more true.
Tech’s blocked two kicks in each of its past two contests – with Antwaun Powell-Ryland getting to an extra point in the overtime matchup at Syracuse, and Keyshawn Burgos swatting away a field goal that true freshman Quentin Reddish ended up returning for a touchdown against Clemson.
The chances for that to continue this weekend stand pretty favorable. Duke’s had three field goals of its own blocked this season, while the Blue Devils have also had two punts blocked as well.
That’s an advantageous opportunity the Hokies have been presented with, with special teams being a crucial area in a 50-50 game on Saturday.
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