GAME NOTES: Coming off a key victory over ACC power Clemson, the 12th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies finish up a brief two-game road trip, as they head to Durham to battle the Duke Blue Devils in Coastal Division action. Frank Beamer's Hokies used great special teams and defensive play to get past the Tigers last weekend in Death Valley (41-23) and move to 2-0 in league play. Tech sits just a half game behind Virginia (3-0) in the divisional standings. Bringing up the rear once again in the Coastal Division is Duke (0-3), which has won just once this year and enters this contest in the midst of a three- game skid. Last weekend, the Blue Devils played admirably, but fell to Wake Forest 41-36. This is the 15th all-time meeting between these two teams, with the series tied at 7-7. After running out to a huge lead in the series, Duke has faltered of late, with Virginia Tech winning the last six meetings.

The offense didn't do a lot against Clemson last week and was actually bailed out by the play of the special teams and defense. In all Virginia Tech managed just nine first downs in the game and a mere 223 total yards. The ground game was good with 154 yards, but most of that came from freshman QB Tyrod Taylor, who ran for 118 yards on 15 carries. The Tech offense has struggled in 2007, with the team netting just 274.5 total yards per game. Taylor has taken over under center for the struggling Sean Glennon. Taylor hasn't been much of a passer, but is a tremendous threat to take off and run, as evidenced by his 233 yards and three TDs. Joining Taylor on the ground is talented tailback Branden Ore, although the 5-11, 205-pound junior has struggled to the tune of 3.1 yards per carry thus far. The receiving corps would like more action, as Josh Morgan is the team's top threat, although he has just 18 receptions on the year.

Defensively, the Hokies are once again a feared unit. Against Clemson, the Hokies allowed a whopping 372 yards passing, but completely shut down a potent rushing attack, allowing the Tigers just eight yards rushing on 23 carries. The defense recorded four sacks, two interceptions and scored a TD on a D.J. Parker interception return. The defense on the year has been better than average, holding foes to just 16.3 ppg on 320.2 yards of total offense. The unit has a trio of All-American candidates in LBs Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi and CB Brandon Flowers. Hall currently leads the team in tackles with 61 stops. Adibi is a close second with 57 total tackles, adding 8.5 TFLs, three sacks and one interception. Flowers is the playmaker in the secondary, with 41 tackles, 7.0 TFLs and one interception. Senior end Chris Ellis is the top performer along the defensive line, with 24 tackles and a team-high four sacks.

The Blue Devils got something going offensively against Wake Forest last week, amassing 386 yards, including nearly 300 through the air (291). Sophomore QB Thaddeus Lewis led the offense by completing 21-of-47 pass attempts, for 291 yards with four TDs and two INTs. Eron Riley was the top target downfield, hauling in eight passes, for 143 yards and two of those scores. Tailback Re'quan Boyette was productive in limited touches, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry and finishing with 77 yards on eight touches. On the season, the Blue Devils have managed to score 23.3 ppg, thanks in large part to an effective passing attack which is generating 250.8 yards per game. Lewis has played well under center, completing 57.1 percent of his tosses, for 1,491 yards, with 15 TDs. Senior WR Jomar Wright (31 receptions, for 346 yards and three TDs) leads the team in receptions, but it has been Riley (25 receptions, for 544 yards and seven TDs) who has made the most of his opportunities.

The Duke defense has not been good this season, yielding a generous 32.3 ppg, on 427.2 yards of total offense. Opponents have been able to move the chains with ease both on the ground (177.3 ypg) and through the air (259.8 ypg). Forcing the issue has not been a strength for this unit, with the team amassing just nine takeaways and 11 sacks in the first six games. One player that is certainly doing his fair share is sophomore Vincent Rey. The talented LB leads the team in tackles with a whopping 72 stops, with 6.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks. Senior end Patrick Bailey has been the top pass rusher. Of his 37 tackles, seven have come behind the line of scrimmage and 4.5 have been sacks.

The Duke offense is starting to wake up, but against one of the nation's toughest defensive units, expect the Blue Devils to go dormant again in what should be a lopsided affair for the Hokies.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Virginia Tech 41, Duke 10