Virginia @ Duke preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 7, 2017 ) Duke 21, Virginia 28

Virginia looks to build off its biggest win in years as it visits Duke on Saturday afternoon in a key matchup in the ACC Coastal Division. The Cavaliers shocked previously ranked Miami (Fla.) 16-13 at home last week in what was their first win over a top-25 opponent in four years and their first win over a team ranked inside the top 15 since 2011.

Virginia used a touchdown from senior running back Jordan Ellis, three field goals and an opportunistic defense that got two interceptions from safety Juan Thornhill to help pull the upset. "They're becoming resilient and they are becoming confident and they acknowledge and see that happening," Cavaliers coach Bronco Mendenhall told reporters about his team after the game. Duke was able to get back into the win column last weekend with a 28-14 win over Georgia Tech after the Yellow Jackets coughed up the game by fumbling three times late in the third quarter. The Blue Devils took full advantage of the turnovers as quarterback Daniel Jones threw three touchdown passes during that decisive span at the end of the period to blow open a tie game.

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network. LINE: Duke -7.5.

ABOUT VIRGINIA (4-2, 2-1 ACC): Virginia’s defense was outstanding last week against Miami, holding a Hurricanes offense more than 28 points below its season average. For the season, the Cavaliers are allowing just 19.2 points against per game, ranking them 25th in the nation. Offensively, the Cavaliers succeed when they are running the ball effectively, as they have 1,098 rushing yards through six games in 2018 and are led by Ellis’ 564 yards and seven touchdowns.

ABOUT DUKE (5-1, 1-1): Duke’s rushing defense is allowing 140.5 yards per game, 47th in FBS, but is coming off a strong performance where they contained Georgia Tech’s top-ranked rushing offense to 3.8 yards per carry and just one rushing touchdown. The Blue Devils’ offense is averaging just 390 yards per game, 10th in the ACC, but Jones has been efficient with a 68.3 percent completion rate. Much like the Cavaliers, the Blue Devils will look to establish the run early and are led by sophomores Deon Jackson and Brittain Brown, who have a combined 672 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground so far in 2018.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Virginia has beaten Duke in each of the last three seasons.

2. The Blue Devils own the ACC’s best red zone defense at 64.3 percent.

3. Jones has thrown just two interceptions this season but has thrown seven interceptions in two games against the Cavaliers in his career.

PREDICTION: Duke 23, Virginia 17