Miami (FL) @ Duke preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 24, 2012 ) Miami 52, Duke 45

Duke is rolling along with its longest win streak since 1994 and faces perhaps its biggest challenge when No. 23 Miami (Fla.) visits for an ACC showdown Saturday. The Blue Devils, winners of five straight, can reach the ACC championship game with victories in their final three regular-season contests after rallying to beat North Carolina State 38-20 last week. Miami has won nine in a row against Duke, but lost the last two weeks while giving up 83 points and 1,066 yards combined.

The Hurricanes must rebound from a 42-24 loss to Virginia Tech at home and avoid mistakes against a Blue Devils team that has surrendered only 34 points in the fourth quarter. Duke’s linebacker Kelby Brown and cornerback DeVon Edwards were named two of the last three national defensive players of the week by the Walter Camp Foundation. The Blue Devils offense must be sharper after turning the ball over eight times the last two games.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Miami -3

ABOUT MIAMI (7-2, 3-2 ACC): The Hurricanes rushed for only 28 yards against Virginia Tech in their first game without standout running back Duke Johnson -- lost for the season with a broken right ankle. That must improve to give a struggling defense more of a break and allow the balance needed for quarterback Stephen Morris, who has 14 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. Allen Hurns is Morris’ top target with 37 receptions for 732 yards and linebacker Denzel Perryman leads the defense with 78 tackles.

ABOUT DUKE (7-2, 3-2): The Blue Devils need better play at quarterback from Anthony Boone and Brandon Connette, who have combined for 15 interceptions – seven the last two weeks by Boone. Whoever is under center will be looking for wide receiver Jamison Crowder, who is second in the ACC in catches per game (7.44) and is 97 shy of his second straight 1,000-yard campaign. Edwards returned two interceptions for touchdowns and galloped 100 yards with a kickoff for another score last week.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Morris needs 155 yards passing to become the fourth Miami quarterback to reach 7,000 in his career, joining Ken Dorsey, Gino Torretta and Jacory Harris.

2. Duke DE Kenny Anunike leads the team with four sacks and 11 tackles for loss and had a season-high 11 tackles last week.

3. Miami boasts 21 takeaways (14 interceptions, seven fumble recoveries), one shy of its total for the 2012 season.

PREDICTION: Duke 27, Miami 21