Duke at Virginia Tech, 12:30 Kick Off

[CameronBornAndBred]

I'm optimistic that we have a chance, but I'm not confident that this game will even be close. I'm enjoying the ride but this will be a hard game for us to walk out of Lane Stadium with a victory. Hell, getting out of BB&T field was not easy.

But still, like i said...we have a chance.

Here's an early look from The Virginian Pilot on what they are expecting.
http://hamptonroads.com/2012/10/taking- ... going-duke

[lawgrad91]

Great minds think alike, CB&B. I was just getting ready to post this.

Andy Bitter is the Pilot's VT reporter. His articles have been interesting this year, to say the least.

[lawgrad91]

Oh, yeah. (not to PW or anything....)

Beat VT.

[Bob Green]

I'm confident. Virginia Tech is the team which will be nervous at kick-off. Their season is on the line and a loss to Duke will send them freefalling. Duke is on a roll and confident. We will be loose, playing with nothing to lose, while VT will be strung tight as a spring!

[Bob Green]

Vegas has set the over/under at 54 with VT a 9.5 points favorite. The math works out to a final score of VT 32, Duke 22. I don't think VT can hold us to 22 points, but I think we can hold VT to a field goal less than 30. I'm looking for a score in the neighborhood of Duke 28, VT 27, which equals 55. So that's a longwinded way of saying, I recommend Duke and the over.

[devildeac]

Vegas has set the over/under at 54 with VT a 9.5 points favorite. The math works out to a final score of VT 32, Duke 22. I don't think VT can hold us to 22 points, but I think we can hold VT to a field goal less than 30. I'm looking for a score in the neighborhood of Duke 28, VT 27, which equals 55. So that's a longwinded way of saying, I recommend Duke and the over.

Which crystal are you working with this week, Bob?

;)

[DukePA]

Vegas has set the over/under at 54 with VT a 9.5 points favorite. The math works out to a final score of VT 32, Duke 22. I don't think VT can hold us to 22 points, but I think we can hold VT to a field goal less than 30. I'm looking for a score in the neighborhood of Duke 28, VT 27, which equals 55. So that's a longwinded way of saying, I recommend Duke and the over.

Which crystal are you working with this week, Bob?

;)

As long as it's the same crystal he used last week, we're happy!!

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

Since we have to steal one someplace before we're done, it might as well be this one! Go Duke!
Love, Ima

[Bob Green]

Vegas has set the over/under at 54 with VT a 9.5 points favorite. The math works out to a final score of VT 32, Duke 22. I don't think VT can hold us to 22 points, but I think we can hold VT to a field goal less than 30. I'm looking for a score in the neighborhood of Duke 28, VT 27, which equals 55. So that's a longwinded way of saying, I recommend Duke and the over.

Which crystal are you working with this week, Bob?

;)

As long as it's the same crystal he used last week, we're happy!!

Yep, it is the same slightly fuzzy, dust covered crystal ball I use each week.

[Bob Green]

Duke vs. Virginia Tech

October 13, 2012



PROBABLE

S Brandon Braxton (upper body)

CB Lee Butler (lower body)

DE Justin Foxx (hand)

QB Sean Renfree (arm)

S Chris Tavarez (leg)



QUESTIONABLE

NG Jamal Bruce (foot)

DT Jamal Wallace (lower body)



DOUBTFUL

DE Dezmond Johnson (lower body)



OUT

CB Jared Boyd (leg)

LB Kelby Brown (leg)

TE Braxton Deaver (leg)



OUT FOR SEASON

TE Jack Farrell (leg)

WR Blair Holliday

DE Allen Jackson (shoulder)

S Corbin McCarthy (shoulder)

S Taylor Sowell (leg)

[The Football Fan]

Guys and Gals, I think this is it. This is the game Duke has to qualify for a bowl. They'll be as loose and confident for this game as any on their schedule. They've come close with this team just like Wake. They know they can win, understand the difficult task at hand...but make no mistake every game they play at 5 wins, will add pressure and with each loss the pump from getting those early wins will start to fade and doubt will creep in and make the 4th quarter a little harder. As I see it, our best chances are right now. Not saying we can't get a win vs. GaTech, but UNC and Miami will be harder and the talent divide between Florida State and Clemson make it hard to see the unexpected upset. They win here or with UNC, maybe, but not likely.

A win here changes what's possible for the season.

I think we win this one... if we don't get busted on a special teams play. For example, a blocked punt or we miss a field goal. Those are really hard to overcome and against VaTech, we'll have to be fundamentally sound. We don't have to bust a big one of our own, but we have to be solid and not give anything away. That's my slightly unconventional key to the game.

[devildeac]

Guys and Gals, I think this is it. This is the game Duke has to qualify for a bowl. They'll be as loose and confident for this game as any on their schedule. They've come close with this team just like Wake. They know they can win, understand the difficult task at hand...but make no mistake every game they play at 5 wins, will add pressure and with each loss the pump from getting those early wins will start to fade and doubt will creep in and make the 4th quarter a little harder. As I see it, our best chances are right now. Not saying we can't get a win vs. GaTech, but UNC and Miami will be harder and the talent divide between Florida State and Clemson make it hard to see the unexpected upset. They win here or with UNC, maybe, but not likely.

A win here changes what's possible for the season.

I think we win this one... if we don't get busted on a special teams play. For example, a blocked punt or we miss a field goal. Those are really hard to overcome and against VaTech, we'll have to be fundamentally sound. We don't have to bust a big one of our own, but we have to be solid and not give anything away. That's my slightly unconventional key to the game.

Interesting perspective. If they win, does over-confidence start to creep in? When was the last time you heard that about a Duke FB team? If they lose, does doubt begin and they start to wonder where their next W is? They have performed as expected so far this year as they have won the games they were expected to win or the "winnable" ones. They got pasted at Stanford but that may serve a very valuable lesson to temper any thoughts of being overly confident.

As Bob Green mentioned at a another location ;) , we have a very good kicking game and hopefully can pin them deep several times, "flip" the field and capitalize with a few scores. I'd also like to see us "out-special team" them by coming up with a key TO, a long run-back or two, a blocked kick or making that critical FG or two that eluded us last year and multiple times in the past. I'll be and in Section 21. Hope it's crowded.

[Bob Green]

A win here changes what's possible for the season.

This is a solid observation. The players are taking it one game at a time with a goal of going 1-0 for the week. The end result is confidence is climbing. A win in Blacksburg could propel this team all the way to Charlotte. Wake Forest pulled it off and there is no reason we cannot. Step 1 is to beat the Hokies.

On a different board, a poster much more knowledgeable than me and I reiterate much more knowledgeable than me stated he expects Duke to reach six wins and more this season. Food for thought...

[Bob Green]

Woohoo! Game Day has arrived. This VT Blog http://vtsports.blogs.timesdispatch.com/ has a couple of interesting entries:

http://vtsports.blogs.timesdispatch.com ... s-defense/

“They’re not going to give you things. Virginia Tech’s a defense that’s not going to give you anything. You have to go take it.”

http://vtsports.blogs.timesdispatch.com ... inia-tech/

They may be 3-3 right now but you can never look down on Virginia Tech. They’re going to give you problems on offense and defense. They’re a little down right now but you still have to play them the same.”

[devildeac]

[Bob Green]

50 degrees and sunny in Blacksburg according to Laura Keeley:

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/dukenow/h ... nk=navdrop

[YmoBeThere]

Ugh, so much for that 20 point lead.

[lawgrad91]

Well, that sucked. Next play.

[devildeac]

What a collapse.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

Remember the song the Shirelles made so popular? "Momma Said There'll Be Days Like This." It fits today's game.