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It wasn't that long ago when Duke was facing a first place Boston College team in desperate need of a win.  The Blue Devils find themselves in the same position, but this time they travel to Boston to take on the nationally ranked Eagles.

Needless to say, the monkey on the Devil's back is more like a gorilla now.  After losing four straight ACC contests, Duke is seeking to regroup and find a way to douse the immense pressure.

In order to do so and beat the Eagles on the road, Duke will need a near perfect game.  There are several keys to the game need  and one can point to many areas that need to work.

The first is keeping Nelson out of early foul trouble and you can throw Josh in for good measure.  Having to play young players for extended periods of time has not helped of late.  IMO, Nelson benefits from establishing his outside game first which open the lane for him.  His better games have come when he abides by this.

Another major factor will be free throws.  Duke must find a way to hit the important  ones down the stretch.

Duke will need to establish the inside game in order to loosen up the outside as a team too.  Oh, and we need more than one player taking the three.  I would like to see more picks, but keep in mind the rules are  tougher, in that a player must have his arms tucked within their shoulders.  So, perhaps Duke stays away from them seeing the potential foul trouble.

It will not help that Duke has had their way with BC and the Eagles are not only due, but pointing to this game.  Then there is who I feel will be the ACC POY, Jared Dudley.

Dudley almost single handily beat Duke in Durham and when his teammate Sean Marshall heatedd up, Duke found itself reaching deep within to hold on to win.  Keep in mind that we held Tyrese Rice in check for most of the game, but that this quick guarf can erupt.

BC wasn't too happy about the loss, especially Dudley.  Having stayed after the game, I saw Dudley emerge from the locker room and glare at the court in disgust.

You can bet that he will be raising his arms about again, trying to keep the crowd into tonight's game.  I mean, he taunted the Cameron crowd and he has said all week that his career isn't complete without beating Duke this year.

Think back and realize that we sent BC packing in last seasons ACC Tournament.  Now ponder the present, where the Eagles are all alone in first place with a win.

Yep, you can bet that this game could become heated if it it is close.

For Duke to win, their youth must rise to the occasion and value each and every possession from tip off to games end.  The Eagles have been labeled a 2.5 point favorite and I honestly think that is a little low.

If Duke can find a way to pull this game out, it would cure a lot of ills.  Imagine beating the league leader twice.  That would certainly hush some of the critics and change the complexion of the season in one evening.

That said, I got an e-mail  stating that since I started picking the spread instead of the score, Duke had been losing.  While I am not that superstitious, I will appease them, but you may not like the pick.   can be done, Duke may win, but BC will likely prove too tough and a tall task awaits the Devils -

BC 66 Duke 61

Let's hope I am wrong!

Duke Off vs. Boston College Def	Boston College Off vs. Duke Def
69.2 Pts F 69.3 Pts A 46.8 FG% 42.8 FG% 34.3 Reb. 31.8 Reb.	77.5 Pts F 58.6 Pts A 48.6 FG% 40.3 FG% 31.8 Reb. 28.6 Reb.