Duke vs Virginia Picks and Prediction for Friday October 23 2026
In the first game of a Friday night college football doubleheader on ESPN, the Duke Blue Devils will invade Scott Stadium to take on the Virginia Cavaliers. Kickoff is scheduled for October 23, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST. The Cavaliers are a short 1.5 home favorite and the total is currently 47.5. Be sure to check out our free college football picks for more NCAAF predictions throughout the season.
Duke looking to bounce back
The Duke Blue Devils have won at least eight games in each of the previous four seasons and are on track to do it again. The Blue Devils (4-2) went undefeated in three non-conference tilts, but enter this game off consecutive ACC losses. On Saturday, Duke gave up a touchdown in the final two minutes during a 24-20 home loss versus rival North Carolina.
Duke took a 20-17 lead with less than five minutes remaining on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Walker Eget to Nate Sheppard. Eget finished with 249 passing yards. Sheppard caught 11 passes for a game-high 98 yards and added 77 rushing yards for the Blue Devils.
The Blue Devils rank third in the conference in rushing offense (209.5 ypg) and are averaging 31.7 points per game. Eget, who is a senior, has thrown for 1,229 yards and eight touchdowns. Duke is second in the conference in total defense (292.7 ypg) and is allowing a stingy 16 points per contest.
Virginia led by dual-threat QB Pribula
The Virginia Cavaliers won 11 games a season ago and were ranked as high as 12th in the AP Poll for fifth year head coach Tony Elliott. The Cavaliers lost to West Virginia in the non-conference schedule and have split their first four conference games. Last week, Virginia managed just three points during the second half of a 23-13 road loss against SMU.
Virginia’s only lead of the game came early in the second quarter on Beau Pribula’s one-yard touchdown plunge. Pribula was ineffective through the air with 137 passing yards on 22 attempts. Jekail Middlebrook added 59 rushing yards for the Cavaliers, who were outgained by a 404-258 margin.
The Cavaliers rank in the bottom five of the conference in total offense (362 ypg) and are scoring 30 points per game. Pribula has thrown for 1,211 yards and 13 touchdowns. Virginia is a middle of the conference defensive team (326.6 ypg) and gives up 19.7 points per contest.
Duke vs Virginia Picks and Prediction
Pick: Duke +1.5
Virginia has won nine of the previous 11 meetings against Duke, but the Blue Devils scored a 27-20 victory in last season’s ACC Conference Championship Game. Virginia is allowing 152.7 rushing yards on average and that spells big trouble against Duke RB Nate Sheppard, who ranks sixth nationally with 820 rushing yards. Take the Blue Devils to win on the road.
Pick: Under 47.5
Duke ranks 112th nationally in seconds per play and Virginia ranks 73rd in that category. Both teams want to run the ball and control the clock. Through three conference games, the Blue Devils are averaging 29 points while the Cavaliers are scoring 20.5 points in conference play. Take the under.