Duke vs. Georgia Tech pregame preview

Coastal Division is suddenly wide open once again

Just under two hours until kickoff for Duke’s homecoming game against Georgia Tech and the stakes have suddenly changed dramatically.

With Coastal favorite and frontrunner Virginia’s upset loss to Miami on Friday, the division is—as it usually is—wide open. There are four one-loss teams—Duke, Virginia, Pitt and North Carolina—and the rest of the division has two losses.

The position of Coastal favorite is up for grabs, and Duke can take it with an impressive showing against a Yellow Jackets team that gives special meaning to the traditional Ramblin’ Wreck nickname.

Tech is down two starting offensive linemen and has a former walk-on starting at one spot. Last week’s starting quarterback is now listed at wide receiver and a redshirt freshman will get the ball.

Duke, meanwhile, is hoping for a complete game from the offense. It doesn’t need to be dominant or prolific start-to-finish, but it needs to avoid the yardage deserts its hit in the previous two games, failing to move the ball for one quarter at Virginia Tech and nearly three against Pitt.

Coach David Cutcliffe went back to basics on offense, hoping not to overload quarterback Quentin Harris. The Blue Devils hope that will reduce the pressure (internal, not pass rush generated) on the quarterback and allow him to be himself.

Duke needs a consistent offense, a pass rush that will harass the young Tech quarterback and to get up early on a Yellow Jackets team that could have a long year in front of it.

Of course, this is the Coastal Division, so literally anything can happen. We’ll find out how it goes, starting In about two hours.