Week 6: Duke at Georgia Tech

This game features a pair of head coaches who have wasted no time injecting enthusiasm into programs that needed it. David Cutcliffe has guided Duke to its best start since 1994, and Paul Johnson is working wonders at Georgia Tech with the youngest team in the ACC.

The Blue Devils, who routed Virginia 31-3 last week to snap a 25-game losing streak against ACC competition, face a new test this week: their first road game of the season. Duke played each of its first four games at home, which allowed the players to adjust to game day under Cutcliffe in a friendly environment. That won’t be the case this week against Georgia Tech, which enjoyed a week off after its 38-7 victory over Mississippi State.

The break came at a good time for the Yellow Jackets. Starting quarterback Josh Nesbitt injured his right hamstring early in the Mississippi State game and was replaced by freshman Jaybo Shaw for the remainder of the contest. Nesbitt had time to heal during the open date and might be healthy enough to play against the Blue Devils.

Nesbitt is a more dynamic runner than Shaw, but regardless of who lines up under center, Georgia Tech’s run-oriented offense will be the same. The Yellow Jackets rank fifth nationally in rushing (306.8 yards per game) and feature a versatile threat in B-back Jonathan Dwyer. Dwyer, who is second in the conference in rushing (97.2 ypg), gets tough yards up the middle but also has the speed to score on plays off the edge.

One advantage the Blue Devils have in this game is that they already have seen Georgia Tech’s unconventional offense once this season. Duke defeated Navy, which still runs Johnson’s option-based system, 41-31 on Sept. 13. Duke held the Midshipmen to just 207 yards rushing, more than 100 yards below their season average. While Georgia Tech’s skill players are superior to Navy’s, Duke’s success against the Midshipmen has to be encouraging to Cutcliffe.

Notes/Things to Watch:
Georgia Tech leads the all-time series 44-30-1, including wins in 12 of last 13 matchups. The Blue Devils haven’t beaten the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta since 1994.

Don’t be surprised if Georgia Tech takes an early lead, and don’t be surprised if Duke rallies. The Yellow Jackets have outscored their opponents 38-3 in the first quarter this season, while the Blue Devils have outscored their opponents 48-7 in the third quarter and 28-7 in the fourth quarter.

Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, who ranks second in the ACC in total offense (242.2 ypg), threw his first two interceptions of the season against Virginia. Lewis will face a stiff pass rush against the Yellow Jackets — they are tied for second in the league with 11 sacks — but he can’t let the pressure force him into bad decisions.

If the Blue Devils keep the game close, they won’t be scared to try a field goal. Duke’s Nick Maggio and Joe Surgan are a combined 6-for-7 on field-goal attempts this season after making just 3 of 10 attempts in 2007.

Key Player (Blue Devils) — Michael Tauiliili, LB

Tauiliili played a game for the ages last week against Virginia, racking up a career-high 16 tackles in addition to forcing a fumble, recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass. Tauiliili, the ACC’s leading tackler (11.5 per game), must come up big this week stopping the dive portion of Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense.

Key Player (Yellow Jackets) — Morgan Burnett, S

Burnett needs to keep Duke’s most dangerous weapon, wide receiver Eron Riley, from sneaking behind Georgia Tech’s defense. Riley has an ACC-best six touchdown catches this season, so Burnett (tied for the ACC lead with three interceptions) must keep an eye on him.

Georgia Tech by 13