Stanford @ Duke preview

THE STORY: Andrew Luck might be the one player worth tuning in to see every week, but Saturday in Durham it could be Stanford’s defense stealing the show. The sixth-ranked Cardinal are coming off a 57-3 rout of San Jose State that amounted to a glorified scrimmage. Luck looked like his usual Heisman-candidate self, tossing two touchdowns in an effortless affair, and he could be in for another walk in the park if his reshuffled defense plays as well as it did last week. Duke suffered a severe blow in Week 1 with a third straight loss to Richmond of the FCS. The Blue Devils’ schedule makes it hard to envision the program posting its first winning record in 15 years.

TV: ESPNU. LINE: Stanford -21

ABOUT STANFORD (1-0): The Cardinal are breaking in three new offensive linemen who will look to replicate the success of a zone-blocking scheme that produced the school’s two highest rushing totals in the last two seasons. New coach David Shaw has four returning running backs but has given Stepfan Taylor the No. 1 spot and the bulk of the carries. Taylor, who ran for two touchdowns in the opener, faces a Duke defense that surrendered only 95 yards on 31 carries to Richmond.

ABOUT DUKE (0-1): The Blue Devils could be entering this matchup with momentum had the offense not squandered half its red-zone opportunities last week. Sean Renfree went 23-of-33 for 201 yards. Although the offense committed two costly first-half fumbles that led to 10 points, the junior quarterback drove his team into field-goal position on the last two drives. Renfree is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the ACC and knows how to move the chains, which will be vital in keeping Luck off the field.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Look for Luck to get more familiar with his three tight ends listed 6-foot-6 or taller, including Levine Toilolo, who missed nearly all of last season with a knee injury.

2. This will be a a nice tuneup for the Cardinal secondary, which lost its most experienced player to graduation. Stanford faces a solid passing attack in Arizona next week.

3. Duke followed up its last loss to Richmond, in 2009, by winning five of the next seven games.

PREDICTION: Stanford 38, Duke 24 – Renfree and the Blue Devils will put up some points, but they can't keep up with Luck and his array of weapons.