Virginia at Duke preview

3 p.m. at Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, N.C.

TV: Comcast SportsNet.

Radio: WSPZ (570 AM).

Records: Cavaliers 2-3, 0-1 ACC; Blue Devils 4-1, 1-0.

stop the skid: After starting the season 2-0, the Cavaliers have dropped three straight games and find themselves in desperate straits re-entering ACC play at Duke. No Virginia team that started a season 2-4 has ever qualified for a bowl game and things won’t be easy against the Blue Devils, who are off to their best start since 1994. Virginia hasn’t won at Wallace Wade Stadium since 2006.

ALL ABOUT QBs: The Phillip Sims era officially gets underway when the redshirt sophomore makes his first career college start for Virginia. But perhaps the more intriguing quarterback situation will be on the Duke sideline. Senior Sean Renfree has thrown for close to 1,300 yards and nine touchdowns this season, but he’s a game-time decision after hurting his elbow in last week’s win over Wake Forest.

SELF-INFLICTED MISTAKES: The Cavaliers have the second-worst turnover margin in the country and are the most penalized team in the ACC. Those issues led directly to last week’s loss against Louisiana Tech, when junior Michael Rocco threw three interceptions and the Cavaliers came one penalty short of setting a new program record. Virginia also missed out on a chance to score a comeback victory when it was called for too many men on the field late in the fourth quarter.

— Mark Giannotto