No. 2 Clemson seeks perfect ACC regular-season against Duke

Posted November 15, 2018 6:00 am

By The Associated Press

Duke (7-3, 3-3 ACC) at No. 2 Clemson (10-0, 7-0, CFP No. 2), 7 p.m. EST (ESPN).

Line: Clemson by 27ˆ½.

Series record: Clemson leads 36-16-1.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Clemson is in prime position for its fourth straight College Football Playoff, which could disappear with a loss to Duke - or anyone else - down the stretch. The Blue Devils are seeking an eighth win in a season for the fourth time in the past six years.

KEY MATCHUP

Duke QB Daniel Jones vs. Clemson's defensive line. Jones rushed for 186 yards - a school record for a quarterback - last week in beating North Carolina 42-35. The Tigers held Boston College to 113 total yards in a 27-7 win. Clemson is third nationally in fewest yards rushing allowed at 82.3 per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Duke: RB Deon Jackson. The sophomore set the program record with 403 all-purpose yards in a loss at Pitt last month. Jackson has 725 yards and seven TDs.

Clemson: DT Christian Wilkins. The Tigers senior will make a solo run down the hill into Memorial Stadium as part of Senior Night festivities. Count on him to put on a show when the game starts. Wilkins has been the emotional leader for Clemson this year and he's fifth on the team with 40 tackles. He's also had three sacks and team high 10 quarterback pressures.

FACTS & FIGURES

Clemson and Duke have not played in football since the Tigers 56-20 win in 2012. ... The Blue Devils last win in the series came at Duke, 16-13, in 2004. ... Duke ensured its fifth winning season in the past six years, the longest such stretch since having five winning seasons out of six from 1960-65. ... Clemson is seeking its fourth 11-0 start after accomplishing it in 1948, 1981 and 2015. The Tigers won the national title in 1981. ... Clemson is looking for its 51st win of the past four years. That would be a school and ACC record for the 2018 senior class. ... Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence has 19 TD passes, just two away from tying the program's single-season mark shared by Woody Dantzler and Charlie Whitehurst. ... Duke TE David Koppenhaver caught his 11th career touchdown pass, breaking the school record of 10 held by Stan Crisson from 1961-63.

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