First look: Duke football closes home season against Pittsburgh in ACC play on Saturday
Even after dropping a tough, 47-45, double-overtime game at rival North Carolina on Nov. 11, Duke coach Mike Elko insisted his team had it in them to finish strong and win eight regular-season games for the second consecutive season.
With games against two ACC teams win no bowl chances, it appeared possible.
Instead, Duke played poorly last Saturday, losing 30-27 at Virginia.
Now the Blue Devils (6-5, 3-4 ACC) have one more regular-season game, on Saturday at home against Pittsburgh (3-8, 2-5 ACC).
How Duke plays against Pitt will help determine which bowl game will select the Blue Devils.
“I think I don’t think it was about the emotion,” Elko said Saturday after the loss to Virginia. “I don’t think it was about the letdown. I don’t think it was about not bouncing back. I think we just didn’t play good football.”
For the most part this season, Duke has played good football. It’s how the Blue Devils started 5-1, with a wins over Clemson and N.C. State and a 21-14 loss to Notre Dame. Injuries, notably to quarterback Riley Leonard, linebacker Dorian Mausi and cornerback Myles Jones, have certainly hurt the Blue Devils since then.
Still, Duke has never lost more than two games in a row during Elko’s two seasons as their head coach. As discouraging as the loss to Virginia was, he still believes the team can respond to improve its bowl standing.
“I think it’s understanding the challenge of playing every single week, executing every single week,” Elko said. “What that takes, what that looks like. And so I’m discouraged with how we played today (at Virginia). I’m not disappointed in who we are.”
Key matchup: Duke pass defense vs. Pitt QB
The Panthers only average 211 passing yards per game. That’s No. 8 in the ACC. Pitt’s completion percentage (51.4%) is dead last among the ACC’s 14 teams.
Duke had a strong pass defense over the season’s first half, but has become susceptible to big plays of late. It’s an area the Blue Devils should be able to shore up against what’s been a poor Pitt passing offense, now led by sophomore Nate Yarnell.
Player to watch: LB Dorian Mausi
One of Duke’s better defensive players earlier this season, linebacker Dorian Mausi returned to play against Virginia after missing the previous two games.
In nine games, Mausi has 55 tackles. That includes a 14-tackle game in a 38-20 loss to Florida State on Oct. 21 and 10 tackles when Duke beat Northwestern. 38-14, on Sept. 26.
But, against Virginia, Mausi recorded just one tackle as Duke lost to the Cavaliers. Duke needs him healthy enough to play well against Pitt.
Vegas betting odds
Duke was favored by as many as 6.5 points over Pittsburgh when the game odds were posted Sunday. The over-under is 42.5 points
Pittsburgh at Duke
Teams: Pittsburgh Panthers (3-8, 2-5 ACC) at Duke Blue Devils (6-5, 3-4 ACC)
Where: Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham
Date: Saturday, Nov. 25
Time: Noon
TV: ACC Network
Stream: DIRECTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, SlingTV