CLEMSON — The quarterback situation is the big news in Tigertown for a second straight game, as Clemson gets set to host Duke on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Cade Klubnik is listed as probable after missing the SMU game with a sprained right ankle on Oct. 17. Backup Christopher Vizzina could also see some time after throwing for 317 yards and 3 TDs against the Mustangs.

If anything, Vizzina might play just to change things up.

Maybe that keeps Duke head coach Manny Diaz off-balance enough and allows the Clemson passing game to exploit a Duke secondary that ranks last in the ACC in yards allowed per attempt.

“They are very similar to what we do,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “There is a lot of carry over. They do a lot of similar things we do from a disguise standpoint, and they do a nice job with it.  From that standpoint, there is some good carry over as we prepare for them.”

Duke 4-3, 3-1 ACC at Clemson 3-4, 2-3 ACC

• Kickoff: Saturday, noon
• Location: Memorial Stadium, Clemson
• TV: ACCN
• Spread: Clemson is favored by 3.5 points
• Total: 54.5 points
• Series: Clemson leads the series 37-17-1

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Clemson has won 13 straight games on Homecoming and has not lost to Duke at Memorial Stadium since 1980 (15 straight wins). Duke has not defeated Clemson in consecutive games in the series since the 1969 and 1970 seasons.

KEY MATCHUP

As good as quarterback Darian Mensah is, there is one thing he does that gives Clemson hope they can slow him down. He likes to hold on to the football, so he can create plays downfield when things break down. Clemson has not had opposing quarterbacks do that too much this season. They did not take advantage of the last guy who does it – SMU’s Kevin Jennings. Mensah has been sacked 14 times this season, seven more times than Clemson’s Cade Klubnik. Will Heldt and T.J. Parker could get some opportunities this week to make plays in the backfield, and they need to take advantage of it.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cade Klubnik is expected to play, which can be a good shot in the arm for the Clemson offense. Before his injury, Klubnik appeared to have found his groove and looked more like his old self. But how healthy is he? How will his right ankle hold up? How mobile will he be? Will he be a factor in the running game at all? Those are a lot of questions to have for the one player whose presence can play a major role in winning or losing. If Klubnik is his old self, then he will have opportunities to throw the ball against a Duke defense that gives up a lot of passing yards (245.9) and allows quarterbacks to complete passes at a high rate (67.5 percent). The Blue Devils also allow an ACC worse 8.5 yards per completion.

The Blue Devils have one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Mensah. The junior leads the country in passing yards per game, as he averages 315.9 yards. Mensah has thrown 17 TDs to 2 INTs this season and is completing 70.3 percent of his passes. Though Clemson’s defense held SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings to a low completion percentage, the Mustangs won the game because of the Tigers’ breakdown in the secondary. The Tigers’ pass defense is average at best, as opponents are completing 61 percent of their passes. They allow 227.9 yards per game through the air.

THIS AND THAT

Clemson has an overall record of 78-19-3 in its previous 100 Homecoming games. That includes a 47-4-2 record (.906) in Homecoming games since the 1971 season. Since 1971, the Tigers are 8-0-1 against the Blue Devils on Homecoming.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Can Clemson win this game? Yes. Can the Tigers lose it? Yes. That is where this team is right now. There is no consistency on the roster. Losing Bryant Wesco, Jr., in the passing game was a huge blow. The Tigers will need someone else to step up in his absence. Who? I do not know. The Clemson defense looked awful against SMU in the second half and could not get a stop when they were needed the most. Duke has an All-American-type-quarterback, explosive receivers, a good offensive line and a strong running game. The Blue Devils are built like a Group of 4 team, loaded on offense and with two good pass rushers on defense and then hanging on for dear life. Can Clemson take advantage of any of that, who knows? Maybe, but probably not.

Prediction

Duke 31, Clemson 24