That scratching sound you hear is Virginia boosters scraping through the pockets of their orange sport coats to find the spare change to buy out Al Groh's contract.

And on that note... 

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DURHAM —Duke finished much stronger than it started and finally relieved itself of a weighty burden in the process.

Duke FB Tielor Robinson scored from a yard out with 1:41 left in the game to give the Blue Devils a 31-3 victory and their first ACC victory in 26 ACC games.

It was Virginia’s first loss at Wallace Wade Stadium since 1994. Duke is 3-1 and 1-0 in the ACC. The 3-1 start is Duke's best since starting 7-0 in 1994. Virginia is 1-3 and 0-1.

Doesn't seem like much happened in the two weeks I was gone.

Merely: East Carolina's dream season imploding at Carter-Finley; N.C. State losing its two most important players; North Carolina losing its QB; the Hurricanes losing Rod Brind'Amour and Justin Williams while the NHL was rejecting Eric Staal's new contract; Florida State capitulating to Wake Forest; Charlotte running out of gas; the U.S. winning the Ryder Cup in dominating fashion and Clay Aiken announcing he is gay.

Staff video: Travis Long, Caulton Tudor and Joe Giglio

Topic: Can UNC and N.C. State survive without their quarterbacks?

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Can N.C. State and UNC survive without their starting quarterbacks? (Staff video by Travis Long, Joe Giglio and Caulton Tudor)

• Jimbo Fisher's selfish mistake, why all the Miami love, Duke-UVa for I-AA bragging rights and potential trouble for Tommy Bowden and Clemson.

Florida State's rookie quarterbacks combined to produce three points and five interceptions in the Noles' ACC opener and Jimbo Fisher, in his infinite wisdom, is starting Christian Ponder, with D'Vontrey Richardson next in line if he fails, while leaving Drew Weatherford on the bench.

Bobby Bowden reiterated on today's conference call that Weatherford would not get a look against Colorado.

Say what you want about Weatherford, and it has all been said about the eighth-year senior, but with 33 career starts, he's the best option at quarterback to win right now.

Uh-oh, App State, your 35-32 loss to James Madison on Saturday was damaging on several fronts.

1) Duke beat the same James Madison team 31-7
2) You're no longer the top dog in I-AA
3) You choked away a 21-point lead

Since we had such a lively discussion in August, I figured you still had something to say. Go ahead.

DURHAM — Since Peter Lalich was kicked off the team earlier this month for violating terms of his probation, it leaves sophomore Marc Verica to take the Cavaliers (1-2) on the road for their first ACC game, this one at Duke on Saturday at noon.

Duke (2-1) has lost 25 straight ACC games but Virginia is a 7-point underdog. Despite the tawdry facts, both teams have much to prove before the jury comes back with a verdict.

Because of the QB change, the Devils have a chance to make hay on defense.

Duke has lost 25 straight ACC games but that's not stopping oddsmakers from installing the Blue Devils as a 6.5-point favorite in their ACC opener against Virginia on Saturday.

(Memo to Virginia fan: That's how bad your team is.)

It's the second straight week Duke is the favorite (-2 vs. Navy). Phil Steele's preview charts the betting lines of every game, according to his numbers, Duke has been the favorite eight times since 1999.