Florida State @ Duke preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 27, 2007 ) Duke 6, Florida State 25

THE STORY: Reeling Florida State looks to avoid a fourth consecutive loss and a 0-3 start in conference play when it visits Duke on Saturday. The Seminoles, ranked as high as No. 5 four weeks ago, fell at Wake Forest last week 35-30. The Blue Devils, meanwhile, have had two weeks to prepare since earning a 31-27 victory at Florida International.

TV: RSN, ESPN 3.com. LINE: Florida State -13.5.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (2-3, 0-2 ACC): The Seminoles rank 10th nationally in total defense (283.8 yards), but they have given up 93 points in their last three games due to their self-destructive tendencies. Florida State has turned the ball over nine times in its three losses, including five giveaways at Wake Forest, and is the most penalized team in the nation, losing 81.2 yards per game. QB EJ Manuel and Clint Trickett have combined to throw for 1,627 yards and 15 touchdowns.

ABOUT DUKE (3-2, 1-0 ACC): The Blue Devils, long considered the laughingstock of the league, have shown signs of life under fourth-year coach David Cutcliffe. QB Sean Renfree ranks among the nation's passing leaders, completing 71 percent of his throws for 1,361 yards. Duke has shown a knack for coming through in the clutch, rallying from 10 points down in the final 11:56 against FIU and holding Boston College scoreless in the second half of a 20-19 road win.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Manuel sat out a Sept. 24 loss at Clemson with an injured shoulder but returned in the second quarter against Wake Forest. He is slated to start against Duke.

2. Florida State has never lost to the Blue Devils, taking all 16 meetings since the series began in 1992. The two schools have not played since 2007.

3. Duke has allowed just one sack during its current three-game win streak but will be tested by an FSU defense that ranks among the nation's leaders with 2.8 sacks per game.

PREDICTION: Florida State 26, Duke 21. The Blue Devils have gained some confidence during their current run, but they were throttled in their lone true test, a 44-14 loss to Stanford last month. And the Seminoles can't be counted on to cough the ball up five times again.