College capsules

Duke (6-5) at Wake Forest (3-8)

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m., BB&T Field, Winston-Salem

TV/Radio: WRAL, 96.5-WFLB, 620-WDNC

Wake Forest’s strength: The defensive rebuild continues to be ahead of the offense in Dave Clawson’s second year. The Demon Deacons rank 8th in the ACC (one spot ahead of Duke) in total defense, giving up an average of 357.6 yards per game. Two weeks ago in a 28-7 loss to Notre Dame, the defense did an admirable job containing Fighting Irish wide receiver Will Fuller to three catches for 37 yards.

Key theme: Is Duke properly motivated? Against the Cavaliers, it didn’t look that way at the beginning of the game, as the Blue Devils quickly fell into a 21-0 hole in the first quarter. That cushion was too much to overcome, even with a late fourth-quarter rally. Ever since the loss to Miami, Duke has wilted as soon as adversity has struck – or, against the Cavaliers, even before it does.

Laura Keeley

Cincinnati (6-5) at East Carolina (5-6)

Kickoff: noon, Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville

TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network, 570-WFNL

Cincinnati’s strength: The Bearcats rank fourth in the country in total offense averaging 571.3 yards per game. Quarterback Gunner Kiel has had five league games with 300 passing yards or more.

Key theme: ECU has been to a bowl in eight of the past nine years and needs to win to get back to the postseason. The Pirates have dropped their past two home games and are 3-4 in American Athletic Conference play this season.

Cincinnati, at minus-15, ranks 124th in turnover margin and is coming off of a 65-27 road loss to USF.

Joe Giglio

This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 7:05 PM with the headline "College capsules."