Duke vs. Georgia Tech
12:00 PM ET
Saturday, September 26
Brroks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium
Durham, NC
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Blue Devil IMG Sports Network

Duke in 2015: 2-1
Georgia Tech in 2015: 2-1

DUKE INJURIES

PROBABLE - Jela Duncan (RB)
QUESTIONABLE - Chris Holmes (LB), Jake Kite (S)
OUT – Cody Robinson (OG), Dan Beilinson (TE)
OUT FOR SEASON – Kelby Brown (LB), Bryon Fields (CB), Zach Morris (DT), Taariq Shabazz (DE)

GEORGIA TECH INJURIES (complete list unavailable)

OUT - Qua Searcy (RB), Michael Summers (WR)

Duke and Georgia Tech last faced each other on October 11, 2014 in a game Duke won 31-25 in Atlanta. Both teams are coming off a loss to a ranked opponent. Duke to #23 Northwestern 19-10 at home, while Georgia Tech lost to #8 Notre Dame 30-22 in South Bend.

HOW DUKE CAN WIN

In order to win on Saturday the Blue Devils will have to do four things: play physical at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball; sustain offensive drives which produce points; achieve defensive stops on 3rd and 4th down; win the turnover battle.

Duke must match Georgia Tech's physicality at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Coach Cutcliffe emphasized this point when he spoke with the media on Sunday afternoon before practice. Georgia Tech is a physical team that comes at you for a full 60 minutes. Duke must respond with an equal level of physical play.

Georgia Tech has a great offense, which is why Duke absolutely must execute on offense, string successful plays together to sustain drives and produce points in order to keep the Georgia Tech offense off the field and the Duke defense fresh. Balance and versatility are the strengths of the Blue Devils offense so those strengths, which disappeared last week, must reappear this week. Duke will look to establish the running game to set-up the play action pass. It is imperative quarterback Thomas Sirk successfully throws the ball down the field to loosen up the Georgia Tech defense at the line of scrimmage. Duke's passing attack is at its best when multiple receivers are targeted throughout the game. Duke can win this game by achieving balance by successfully running and passing the ball.

Getting off the field on 3rd and 4th down is critical. First and foremost, Duke must stop the dive play. Georgia Tech will look to utilize B Back Patrick Skov to establish the inside running game in order to set-up Justin Thomas on the quarterback keeper or outside pitch to the A Back Broderick Snoddy. Stopping Skov on the inside dive will require Duke's defensive line and middle linebacker to win match-ups at the line of scrimmage, while stopping Thomas and Snoddy will require speed and solid tackling by the linebackers and safeties. The Blue Devils successfully defended Thomas and the outside running game last year in Atlanta so they must replicate that success this year.

Turnovers are almost always a killer and with the rain forecast for Saturday there could be a few so it is imperative the Blue Devils take care of the ball while capitalizing on any Yellow Jackets miscues. Winning the turnover battle will be a huge first step toward securing a win over Georgia Tech on Saturday.

HOW DUKE CAN LOSE

Turnovers, penalties, one dimensional offensive attack and too many three and outs are all ways Duke can lose to Georgia Tech. If the Blue Devils fail to take care of the football, and allow Georgia Tech's defense to take them out of their offensive game plan, Duke will lose.

The number one concern for Duke this coming Saturday afternoon is the defense being worn down in the 4th quarter due to speeding too much time on the field. The offense must execute the game plan and keep dynamic quarterback Justin Thomas and the Yellow Jackets offense on the sideline.

On defense, Duke must utilize strength and speed to stop Georgia Tech. If the defense allows Georgia Tech to dominate the line of scrimmage, Duke will lose.

WHY DUKE WILL WIN

Over the past three years, Duke has shown to be a team with the resilience to bounce back after a big defeat. In 2014, a week after losing to Miami, Duke bounced back with a solid effort in a road win over Georgia Tech. In 2013, after dropping their first two ACC games, Duke reeled off eight straight victories including six conference games with four of those games being on the road. In 2012, the week after losing to Virginia Tech 41-20, on the road in Blacksburg, in a game Duke was leading 20-0; the Blue Devils bounced back to defeat North Carolina 33-30.

Duke will win this game due to their resilience!

BOTTOM LINE

This game sets up as a replay of last year's win in Atlanta. Duke is coming of a lackluster offensive performance where they scored only 10 points in a loss to Northwestern, the exact same number of points Duke scored in last season's loss to Miami prior to beating Georgia Tech 31-25. Once again the offense will bounce back scoring 30+ points in support of the #8 ranked defense in the nation. The combination of Duke's stingy defense and rejuvenated offense will be more than the Yellow Jackets can handle.

Duke 31, Georgia Tech 28