First look: Wake Forest plays an ACC football game at Duke on Thursday night
Starting off the season with five wins in its first six games, Duke built enough hope to think about playing for the ACC championship in December.
Those dreams all but ended over the last two weeks, with road losses at Florida State and Louisville.
Now the Blue Devils want to achieve six wins to become bowl eligible, something they can do with a victory Thursday night against Wake Forest at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Duke (5-3, 2-2 ACC) fell out of The Associated Press Top 25 after losing 23-0 at Louisville on Saturday. It was the team’s largest margin of defeat in Mike Elko’s two seasons coaching the Blue Devils.
Wake Forest (4-4, 1-4 ACC) also is seeking to qualify for a postseason bowl. The Demon Deacons have lost four of their last five games, including last Saturday’s 41-16 setback against ACC-leading Florida State.
Key matchup: Duke WRs vs. Wake pass defense
The Demon Deacons are last in the ACC in pass defense, allowing 256.5 yards per game. Wake Forest has intercepted six passes, the same number as Duke’s defense. But the Demon Deacons have surrendered 13 touchdown passes, compared to five for Duke’s defense.
So while Duke relies on a running game that’s been among the ACC’s best, the Blue Devils should also be able to gain yards through the air.
Duke quarterback Riley Leonard has played the last two games at less than full health as he works his way back from a sprained right ankle. He’s only completed 16 of 39 passes (41%) for 190 yards over those two games.
This looks like a chance for him to get some good vibes going again in that part of his game.
Duke player to watch: WR Jordan Moore
Duke’s leader in receptions (33) and receiving yards (440), Jordan Moore caught six passes for 92 yards against Louisville on Saturday. He was a rare Blue Devil with productive stats in the shutout loss. But he and the Blue Devils needed more. Moore was targeted with 13 passes, meaning less than half wound up completed.
The junior is not performing as well lately as he did earlier this season. His Pro Football Focus scores for receiving ranged from 68.8 to 80 — all considered high quality -- for Duke’s games with Lafayette, Northwestern, Connecticut and Notre Dame.
But, in Duke’s last three games, Moore’s rating scores plummeted against N.C. State (49.7), Florida State (59.6) and Louisville (58.1). Those are either poor or below average.
It’s time for Moore to get open and make plays again for Duke.
Vegas betting odds
Duke was set as a heavy favorite on Sunday, when the opening lines had the Blue Devils favored by 12.5 points.
Wake Forest at Duke
Teams: Duke Blue Devils (5-3, 2-2 ACC) vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-4, 1-4 ACC)
Where: Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham
Date: Thursday, Nov. 2
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Stream: DIRECTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, SlingTV