DUKE AT CAL
Information: Cal 4-1 total, 1-0 in ACC; Duke 3-2, 2-0 in ACC
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Berkeley
TV: ESPN
Radio: 810 AM
Sequence historical past: Duke leads 1-0-1. The groups tied 22-22 again in 1963 of their solely different matchup at Berkeley in All-America quarterback Craig Morton’s junior season. The Blue Devils gained 21-7 the season earlier than at Durham, NC.
Duke storylines: The Blue Devils have been 1-2 after losses to Illinois and Tulane however responded with victories over NC State and Syracuse to open ACC play. … Quarterback Darian Mensah, a redshirt sophomore switch from Tulane, leads the ACC with 1,573 passing yards (329.3 per recreation) and 13 touchdowns. He has simply two interceptions. … Mensah’s favourite goal is extensive receiver Cooper Barkate, a graduate pupil and Harvard switch who averages 19.5 yards for every of his 21 catches. … Freshman working again Nate Sheppard has rushed for 356 yards on 8.1 yards per try. He had 168 yards in Duke’s win over Syracuse.
Cal storylines: The Bears will attempt to begin convention play 2-0 for the primary time since 2015, which can be the final time they reached 5-1 total. … Senior cornerback Hezekiah Plenty, a switch from FIU, shares the nationwide lead with 4 interceptions and is No. 1 in passes defended with 11. … Freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele bounced again from a tough outing in Cal’s 34-0 loss at San Diego State to throw a 51-yard game-winning TD go to tight finish Mason Mini with 1:30 left within the Bears’ 28-24 victory at Boston Faculty. … Cal will play the remainder of the season with out edge Ryan McCulloch and security Isaiah Crosby, each starters shelved by accidents. Beginning of their place for the second straight recreation are Jayden Wayne and Dru Polidore Jr.
Stats that matter: Cal ranks second within the ACC in scoring protection, permitting 18.0 factors per recreation. The Blue Devils are eleventh at 26.4. … However Duke has an offense (eighth at 34.8 factors) that’s 10 factors extra productive than Cal (thirteenth at 24.8). … Duke defensive finish Vincent Anthony Jr. leads the ACC with 5 sacks, simply two fewer than Cal’s whole as a staff.
— JEFF FARAUDO
