Two ACC Coastal teams clash as conference play heats up in Week 5. Here’s a look at what to expect from Miami football when it travels to Durham to face Duke.
The 14th-ranked Miami Hurricanes are 2-0 entering their first conference game of the season against Duke. The Blue Devils are coming off a 27-17 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels in Week 4 for their first ACC win of 2017. They’re currently 4-0.
The Hurricanes haven’t played a conference game yet, as their original meeting with the Florida State Seminoles was rescheduled, but the history favors them in this game.
Miami is 12-2 all-time against Duke on the football field and has won the last four meetings. Last season’s victory was bittersweet as Miami won 40-21.
Quarterback Daniel Jones didn’t play poorly, as he accounted for all of the Blue Devils’ points with three passing touchdowns on 316 passing yards in last year’s loss. This year, he returns looking to lead Duke to a different result.
The Miami offense has produced over 500 yards of offense in their last two games, but the Blue Devils defense is a different beast. They rank 17th in the FBS in scoring defense, allowing 15.2 points per game.
Here’s how you can watch Friday’s Miami football game against Duke:
Date: Friday, Sept. 29
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Durham, N.C.
Venue: Wallace Wade Stadium
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Keys to victory
The key to this year’s game will be whoever can control the line of scrimmage. The Miami Hurricanes rank eighth in the FBS in offense, scoring 46.5 points per game. Their running game has been fueled by running back Mark Walton and his 352 rushing yards.
Walton is averaging 13.2 yards per carry on 27 carries with three touchdowns on the season. The Blue Devils will have their work cut out for them. Their defense allows 75.5 rushing yards per game.
Duke’s run game has been fueled by running backs Shaun Wilson and Brittain Brown. Wilson has 357 rushing yards and five touchdowns, Brown has 328 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Prediction
The Miami Hurricanes have largely dominated their matchup against the Duke Blue Devils in the past. This season may not be a dominant performance from them, but they should do enough to get the victory.
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Quarterback Malik Rosier has 550 passing yards, six passing touchdowns and an interception. The passing game could use the services of wide receiver Ahmmon Richards. He’s missed the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury.
Final Score: Miami 35, Duke 24