Seminoles looking to bounce back again at Duke's expense

DURHAM, N.C. - Whenever Florida State needs a bounce-back game, Duke&#39;s always there to oblige.<br> <br> For the third straight year, the Seminoles enter their annual matchup with the Blue Devils after a loss this time a 4-point defeat at North Carolina State last week that knocked Bobby Bowden&#39;s team from the national rankings.<br> <br> So once again, Florida State&#39;s looking to take out its frustrations on hapless Duke.<br> <br> ``We don&#39;t like to be (unranked). Let&#39;s put it like that,&#39;&#39; Bowden said. ``We&#39;ve just got to climb back.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Maybe Duke can help with that. One of the nation&#39;s most lopsided series resumes Saturday with the Seminoles looking to improve to 15-0 against the Blue Devils.<br> <br> In 13 of 14 previous meetings, Florida State has scored at least 44 points against Duke. In the past two seasons, the Seminoles have won by an average of 26.5 points.<br> <br> And while skeptics accuse Florida State (3-2, 1-2 ACC) of having a down year with those losses to Clemson and N.C. State, Duke coach Ted Roof isn&#39;t buying it.<br> <br> ``You look at the games they&#39;ve lost ... there&#39;s speed all over the place in those programs. Sometimes the ball doesn&#39;t bounce your way,&#39;&#39; Roof said. ``But as far as them being down? I don&#39;t buy into that.<br> <br> ``They&#39;re a really good football team that&#39;s had a couple of bad breaks. That&#39;s what people on the sidewalk may say, but when I turn on the tape and I watch and see for myself, Florida State&#39;s not down.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Still, the Blue Devils players maintain they have a reason for optimism namely, the way they hung with Alabama most of the way during their eventual 30-14 loss in Tuscaloosa.<br> <br> Duke led 14-13 at halftime, and scored more points and gained more yards rushing in the first half of that game than it had all season combined.<br> <br> ``They give you a good view of a team that for three quarters outplayed Alabama,&#39;&#39; Bowden said. ``They scare you.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Suddenly, Duke&#39;s midseason stretch against Alabama, Florida State and Miami seems more manageable now that none of those teams are in the national rankings.<br> <br> ``They&#39;re just another team to us,&#39;&#39; Duke defensive lineman Vince Oghobaase said. ``Who cares if they are a Top 25 team in the nation? We held strong against Alabama.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Both teams have depleted defensive lines. Roof said nose guard Eli Nichols (leg) is out ``for a while.&#39;&#39; Florida State defensive end DJ Norris (inflamed shoulder) will miss his third straight game, and at nose guard starter Paul Griffin (knee) and backup Emmanuel Dunbar (back) are out indefinitely.<br> <br> The Seminoles&#39; injury woes help explain why they have lost two of their past three with the only win over Rice, hardly anyone&#39;s idea of a strong opponent.<br> <br> ``If we had that full deck out there, we maybe would not have some of the problems we are having right now,&#39;&#39; Bowden said. ``It just happens that they are all on defense.&#39;&#39;