10/27/2009 - Michael Tomko, GoDuke.com

DURHAM, N.C. - Last season, Duke (4-3, 2-1) notched its first ACC win since 2004 with a 31-3 win over Virginia (3-4, 2-1). The win was the first ACC win for Duke since 2004, the first for head coach David Cutcliffe against a conference opponent, and the first winning streak Duke had put together since 2003.

Now, with the Blue Devils coming off a 17-13 win over Maryland to claim their second straight ACC win of this season, Cutcliffe and company have set their sights on Virginia once again to try and achieve another milestone, one that hasn't been reached since 1999.

Three wins against ACC opponents in a single season.

"I had never been 2-1 in the conference since I have played at Duke, but we took another step as a football team," senior Thaddeus Lewis said. "There are a lot of opportunities in front of you, and it is a matter of what you do with those opportunities."

Saturday's contest, scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff in Charlottesville, Va. pits two teams who began the season slowly before putting together impressive performances the past few weeks.

"The matchup of our receivers against their secondary is going to be critical," Cutcliffe said. "They pushed us around a year ago in that regard. They bullied us pretty good. We will be challenged without a doubt. Then there big offensive front against our defensive front will be very critical, and then the third thing will be the kicking game. They are very good in the kicking game. They have some excellent return weapons."

Cutcliffe has called the Cavaliers defense the hardest hitting that Duke will play this season, with Lewis calling the secondary of the Cavaliers that best we will have faced to this point in the season.

It will be a matchup of conflicting styles with Virginia leading the conference in pass defense, giving up just 151.3 yards per game, and the Blue Devils leading the conference is passing yards. Duke is averaging 322.6 yards per game through the air this season.

 "They can drop eight back and force us to run the ball and try to take away all the passing lanes," Lewis said.

The Cavaliers play a base 3-4 defense allowing them to run some creative blitzing schemes, but also leaving them susceptible to the run.

"We're going to run the ball better," Cutcliffe said. "We had a good day today [in practice] in that regard. I think anybody that looks at us would love to say, 'we're going to try to make you beat us running,' but we've got to try to find a way to stay somewhat balanced. But regardless, we're going to find a way to throw the football. They can try to make it hard and make it a challenge, but that just changes our course of how to throw it. They'll take some things away because they're really good, and that will be a little bit of a chess match like it always is."

In last year's matchup, Duke racked up 84 yards on the ground versus the Cavaliers.

"This week we have all four backs in the backfield to run the football," Lewis said. "We have had some success running against those guys last year. It's pretty much the same defense, so they give you an opportunity to run the ball."

The last two weeks the running backs have been used more in pass protection than actually carrying the football. Jay Hollingsworth was exceptional against Maryland, filling in for the injured Re'quan Boyette, picking up blocks and allowing Lewis time to throw the football.

"Those guys have done an outstanding job," Lewis said. "They could have been selfish and not block, but those guys are really doing a great job without the ball in their hands picking up protection. My hats off to the running backs coach for getting it in those guys' heads that they have to be more than just a running back."

The Blue Devils defense also played well against Virginia a season ago posting a big second half, outscoring the Cavaliers 28-0 and forcing five turnovers after the game was tied 3-3 at halftime. Duke caused six turnovers in the game.

But last season's game was at home, so being on the road will pose a new challenge.

Wins over Vanderbilt and N.C. State on the road have given Duke the confidence to win anywhere.

"I think it is a great confidence booster for this football team, knowing that we can go on the road and win," Lewis said.