
File photo by Al Drago
Duke running back Desmond Scott runs the ball against Florida State earlier this season.
The Wolfpack has actually played the Seminoles close in recent years, winning four of the last nine meetings including a 28-24 thriller last season in Raleigh. But FSU leads the series 21-10 and will be an 18 ½-point favorite.
“When you win national championships or you're in the Top 10 for 10 or 15 years in a row that says a lot,” Wolfpack coach Tom O'Brien said of the Seminoles. “They have their marquee tomahawk chop, they're on television a lot, and I think they've marketed well. Once they got to a certain level they were able to maintain it. …
“(FSU QB E.J. Manuel) is another dual-threat guy with a big strong arm. He's a tough guy to get on the ground when he pulls the ball down and takes it. He's a 230-pound guy, he's a big strong runner. He's not afraid to pull it down and run with it, run option with it and run the zone read scheme. They do all those things with him. He's very capable to take off and run.”
Virginia Tech leads the series with Duke 11-7 including a 44-7 romp last season in Blacksburg. The Hokies are 14 ½-point favorites.
“We face a huge test,” Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. “This team, Virginia Tech, has hit its stride in all areas. Their offense is gifted. I think right now this is the best team that we've played, and that includes Stanford, the way they are playing right now. It's going to be a huge challenge. They're difficult for us to match up with on both sides of the ball. The biggest concern I have is not Virginia Tech, it's Duke getting enough people healthy.”