X factor: Duke football vs. Syracuse

Duke: safety Deondre Singleton

Singleton has been a force to reckon with in the secondary this season, with five passes defended and 47 total tackles. Combining with safeties Jeremy Cash and DeVon Edwards, Singleton has played the Bandit role for Duke’s 4-2-5 defense. Opponents have been reluctant to throw against Singleton all year, most evident against Virginia Oct. 18, when Singleton helped limit Cavaliers wide receiver Canaan Severin for only three catches for 11 yards.

The sophomore was tagged as probable for Saturday's game with upper body issues, but if Singleton is out there, expect him to make an impact.

Although Singleton gave up 140 yards to Tyler Boyd in last week’s game against Pittsburgh, he will be counted on this Saturday to make life miserable for Syracuse redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Wilson. If the Blue Devils want to completely shut down the Orange offense, it all starts with Singleton and the Duke secondary. Orange senior receiver Jarrod West is fifth in the ACC with 610 receiving yards. If Singleton can help contain West, the Blue Devil defense can have a big day against an inexperienced and banged-up Orange offense.

Syracuse: quarterback Austin Wilson

If Syracuse is going to have any success against the Blue Devils this Saturday, then Wilson is going to have to produce. Making his first collegiate start, the redshirt freshman from Camp Hill, Pa., will have his hands full with a tenacious Duke defense hungry to capitalize on his inexperience. Wilson has played sparingly in three games earlier in the season. In the season-opener, he was thrust into action in place of the ejected Terrel Hunt against Villanova, responding by completing 11-of-17 passes for 89 yards. Hunt broke his leg in a 28-6 loss to Louisville Oct. 3 and backup AJ Long —who had filled in for Hunt the past couple weeks—is highly doubtful for Saturday's game due to a nerve issue in his arm.

Wilson will need to improve on the Orange’s 81st-ranked passing attack and spread the ball around to seniors West, Adrian Flemming and freshman Steve Ishmael. Ishmael became one of Long’s favorite targets, with all three of his touchdowns coming after Long took over the offense. It remains to be seen whether Wilson can establish a rapport with his receivers and challenge the Blue Devil secondary.