Navy @ Duke preview
Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 30, 2010 ) Duke 34, Navy 31
Host Duke comes off its first bye week looking for a victory over its final non-conference foe of the season, Navy, on Saturday. The Blue Devils snapped a two-game losing streak with a 38-31 win over Troy in their last contest. The Midshipmen are trying to reach 4-1 for the first time since 2006.
Both teams feature versatile quarterbacks who can hurt the defense with their passing or running abilities. Duke's Brandon Connette has started the last three games, with the Blue Devils averaging 35.7 points in those starts. Navy's Keenan Reynolds leads the Midshipmen with 385 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground as well as 378 yards and two passing scores.
TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: Duke -3
ABOUT NAVY (3-1): Coach Ken Niumtatalolo is hoping to avoid a letdown against the Blue Devils following a rousing 28-10 win over Air Force last week. The Midshipmen suffered their only loss, to Western Kentucky, following a big win over Delaware, and Niumtatalolo is hoping to avoid that same fate against Duke. “Hopefully, the Western Kentucky game was a reality check for us that we have to come dialed in every game and play with our hair on fire even to have a chance,” Niumtatalolo told the Capital Gazette.
ABOUT DUKE (3-2): The Blue Devils' defense lived off turnovers last year, forcing 23, the most for the team since 2008. This year, Duke has forced six turnovers through five games, a stat coach David Cutcliffe wants to see grow. “I thought our coaches did a good job during the bye week emphasizing creating turnovers,” Cutcliffe told the Durham Herald-Sun. “That was one thing that was very evident on the (practice) field; our defense was able to create a couple or three turnovers by getting the ball loose.”
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Midshipmen are hoping for a boost from the expected return of starting slot back Geoffrey Whiteside, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury.
2. Connette is one rushing touchdown away from tying Jay Calabrese for second on the Blue Devils' all-time list with 24 and four behind all-time leader Tom Davis' 28.
3. This will be the 40th meeting. Navy leads the series 20-14-5 despite Duke winning the last two.
PREDICTION: Duke 35, Navy 28