Duke @ Wake Forest preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 22, 2011 ) Wake Forest 24, Duke 23

Duke begins Atlantic Coast Conference play on the road looking to snap a 12-game losing streak against Wake Forest on Saturday. The last six losses to the Demon Deacons have come by an average of 4.5 points, with two coming by only one point and another in overtime. That may give the Blue Devils a little extra confidence, as should their convincing 38-14 victory over Memphis last week. Wake Forest rebounded from a drubbing at Florida State to top Army 49-37 last Saturday at home.

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: Wake Forest -3

ABOUT DUKE (3-1, 0-0 ACC Coastal): Quarterback Sean Renfree threw for four touchdowns last Saturday, the third time he has done so in a standout career. Renfree, who ranks second among ACC passers with a completion percentage of 70.7 (99-for-140), needs one passing touchdown to move into a tie for fifth place all-time at Duke. Wide receiver Conner Vernon has been the primary target and enters this one with 227 career catches, six shy of becoming the ACC's all-time leader. The Blue Devils are 26-32-1 in ACC openers.

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (3-1, 1-1 ACC Atlantic): Tanner Price had 15 completions against Army and 12 of them went to Michael Campanaro, who had two receiving touchdowns and another on the ground. The Demon Deacons had 506 total yards after netting only 126 in a 52-0 loss to the Seminoles on Sept. 15. Price threw a 66-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to lift Wake Forest to a 24-23 victory at Duke last year.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Blue Devils allow one sack for every 57.33 pass attempts, the best mark in the ACC.

2. Wake Forest had two 100-yard rushers (Josh Harris, 129; Deandre Martin, 115) and a 100-yard receiver last week (Campanaro) against Army, only the second time in school history it has accomplished that feat.

3. Only three of the last 16 meetings have been decided by more than two scores. Ten of those 16 have been decided by seven points or fewer.

PREDICTION: Duke 38, Wake Forest 35