Duke's First Loss: Penalties and a Late Hit Undo Strong Numbers at Georgia Tech

Duke had the better day on several key measures in Atlanta and still came home with its first loss of the season. The Blue Devils converted 10 of 17 third downs, went 1-for-1 on fourth down and had 28 first downs to Georgia Tech's 21. They lost anyway after one penalty in the final minutes kept the Yellow Jackets' winning drive alive.

Duke Blue Devils On SI laid out the numbers from the loss at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Late in the game, Georgia Tech faced 2nd-and-20 when Duke linebacker Bradley Gompers was flagged for a late hit. The penalty gave the Yellow Jackets a first down, and they went on to score the go-ahead touchdown on that drive. It held up as the game-winner.

Penalties were a problem for Duke all game. The outlet counted five first-half penalties for 56 yards. Duke was called only once after halftime, but that was the late hit. The outlet noted some questionable calls against both teams. It also said the Blue Devils' penalty problem has now cost them a game.

The second-half numbers stood out too. Duke had outscored opponents 62-6 after halftime through its first four games, one of the best marks in the country. Georgia Tech scored 14 in the second half, more than twice what Manny Diaz's defense had allowed after the break all season. Duke still won the second half 15-14 and came back from an 11-point deficit in the third quarter. The outlet called the drop-off worth watching but not a serious concern.

The third-down numbers show how Duke stayed in the game on the road. Georgia Tech converted 4 of 10 third downs and 1 of 2 fourth-down tries. That gap kept Duke's offense on the field and gave the Blue Devils a chance late. In the outlet's words, Duke "showed heart and grit to stay in it on the road."

What's next

Duke (4-1) will try to bounce back against North Carolina (3-2) at home on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. On Novig, one of the venues pricing the game, Duke is favored at -156. The spread is Duke -3.5 and the total is 47.5. The game page has the full market. That is a short number for a home team that has controlled most of its games, and it puts more weight on whether Duke can clean up the penalties against its in-state rival.

Georgia Tech (2-3) goes to Virginia Tech (4-2) at the same time on ACC Network. Even after beating Duke, the Yellow Jackets are clear underdogs. Virginia Tech is favored at -335 on Novig and is -375 at FanDuel. The spread is Virginia Tech -10.5 with a total of 56.5, according to the game page.