Our old friend Jeff from All Sports Discussion stopped by to preview the old Coastal Division teams. In what should come as a surprise to no one, we predict a PAINFUL season for UVA. A very, very painful season. I mean, there’s going to be a whole lot of pain. And, to be clear, we’re not telling you Cavs fans there’s a chance.
In other news, Pitt and Duke get high marks from both of us and I don’t remember what we said about Chapel Hill College. That place is straight trash and no one cares about its garbage football team. An interesting recurring theme for most of the teams is the difficulty of their respective schedules. The new 3-5-5 is going to be interesting to watch develop.
This was a fun talk with a great and knowledgeable guest. We hope you enjoy it and, while you’re at it, tell a friend about both of our podcasts.
Folks, since I’m on vacation for the Military Bowl, I’m going to be brief with the game preview. I already wrote about UCF when the bowl game got announced, so I don’t have too much more to add past that. However, in getting ready for the game, I noticed that Knights aren’t a team that Duke can afford to overlook. UCF ranks 10th in total offense and 70th in total defense, giving up one fewer yard per game than the Blue Devils. The Knights also come in with nine wins and is just one loss in the AAC Championship away from playing in the Cotton Bowl. A team that beat Georgia Tech, Cincinnati and Tulane knows how to win. Further, two close losses to Louisville and Navy kept this from being an eleven win season. (And we all know how close losses feel.)
But Duke isn’t too shabby, either. This is the most physical, determined team we’ve seen in Durham in a long time. Many of the guys on the roster want to get the bad taste of the last several seasons out of their collective mouth. And a bowl win against a team headed to the Big 12 would be a great way to do that. Given that context, I expect the Blue Devils to come out motivated, angry and determined to prove something. That should give Duke an edge and carry the Blue Devils to their ninth win of the year.
As with any game, and I don’t consider this to be much in the way of brilliant analysis, a lot of it will come down to which coaching staff will do the best of controlling the flow of the game. It’s in that area that I think Duke is going to do a little better than the Knights. In looking back at the scores of both teams’ games this season, you’ll notice that the Blue Devils didn’t get blown out. The same can’t be said for UCF. The Knights lost two games by 17 or more points this season – losing by 21 to ECU and by 17 in the rematch against the Green Wave. Look, Gus Malzahn is a good coach, and Auburn sure hasn’t done much without him, but Coach Elko and his staff seem to have their collective finger on the pulse of their team. While two bad losses may not say too much in the way of a negative for a team, the fact that our guys have managed to avoid a blowout says a lot about what Coach Elko and his staff are capable of.
Sidenote – UCF’s offensive coordinator, Chip Lindsey, is going to UNC to take over for Phil Longo. I don’t think that’s much of a loss because Malzahn calls the plays and has his hands on the offense. I’m not minimizing anything Lindsey did in Orlando. I’m only making the point that Malzahn is well-suited to handle the departure.
After looking at what Duke and the Knights have done this season, and considering the coaching staffs, I’m taking the Blue Devils to win a fun game. While both offenses can put up points, it wouldn’t shock me to see Duke come out and dominate the game defensively. So, with all that said, I think the Blue Devils will win by a score of 38-24. The main reason I’m taking Duke to win is because the Blue Devils have shown a real ability to play complimentary football. The three units – offense, defense and kicking – fit together well. Duke has also shown a lot of depth at wide receiver and running back as well as on the offensive line. It’s been a while since we could say this, but the Blue Devils have depth. Expect that depth to show up and make a difference come Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. (You will be able to watch the game on ESPN. And since I’m in Mexico, I may give the Spanish broadcast a shot.)
Let us know what you think about what I think in the comments, on Mastodon, on Reddit, on Post, or on Twitter.
It’s official! Duke will play UCF in the Military Bowl at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on December 28 at 2pm. The Blue Devils are back in a bowl game for the first time since 2018. Coach Elko is the first Duke head coach to take the Blue Devils to a bowl since Fred Goldsmith did it way back in 1994. With a win, he would be the first head coach to win nine games in his first season since … I think anyone! I am going to check that again before the bowl, but I think he would be the first head coach to start with nine wins in a season if Duke beats UCF. Let’s all hope that happens because that would be awesome.
As a quick primer on UCF, they went 9-4 in the American Athletic Conference, finished second to Tulane in the regular season and lost to the Green Wave in the conference title game. UCF’s head coach is Gus Malzahn who had a good stretch at Auburn and is 18-8 (11-5) in two seasons at his current gig. UCF had a decent year with wins over Georgia Tech, Cincinnati and Tulane (in the regular season. They lost the rematch in the AAC Championship). They also lost to Louisville and ECU.
While some folks wanted a P5 opponent, which I get, don’t overlook UCF. This team is headed to the Big 12 next season, so you know they can compete. Regardless of the fact that this isn’t a P5 opponent, this is a good matchup and should be a fun game. Further, I don’t see the Blue Devils sleepwalking into this one. Our guys will be ready to win a bowl game.
And that’s it for the quick update. Let me know what you think about what I think in the comments, on Reddit, on Mastodon, on Post or on Twitter.
Here is my Thanksgiving-themed preview of the upcoming Duke game against the Demon Deacons.
I hope you enjoyed this. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and, especially, to Dad. We’re all thinking of you! I hope you get to see the Blue Devils win this weekend.
As Rome expanded from city to Mediterranean power, perhaps its greatest rival was the Samnites. After an overwhelming defeat at the Battle of the Caudine Forks in 321 BC, Rome regrouped and methodically dismantled the Samnites. Over a series of three wars which concluded in 290 BC, the Samnites were defeated, assimilated into Rome and attained full citizenship as a result of the Social War. While never able to defeat Rome, the Samnites were one of Rome’s fiercest enemies and fought against the Romans whenever the chance presented itself. For example, the Samnites joined with Hannibal during the Second Punic War and with King Pyrrhus during the Pyrrhic War.
I bring this interesting historical tidbit up because, while it was a fierce rivalry, the Rome-Samnite Rivalry was rather one-sided. So, too, is the current rivalry between Duke and Pitt. The Panthers lead the Blue Devils in the all-time series by a healthy 16-9 margin. Since Pitt joined the ACC, Duke has only notched one win against their Coastal rival – a 51-48 victory in 2OT which involved Chris Blewitt missing a 26-yard FG attempt at the end of regulation that followed two consecutive Blue Devil timeouts. And while there have been some high-scoring affairs (58-55 in 2013, 54-45 in 2018 and 33-30 in 2019), the Panthers have, in no uncertain terms, owned Duke. Since 2013, Pitt is 7-1 against the Blue Devils.
So, will this year be any different? Possibly. The Panthers have taken a step back this year. Sitting at 6-4 with two games to go, this isn’t the season that a lot of people expected after winning the ACC Championship last year. Nonetheless, it’s a bowl eligible season with two games to go. While Pitt is far from perfect, close losses against Tennessee and Georgia Tech say that this team isn’t too far off from being 8-2. (And we know how close lossesfeel!) Plus, the Panthers put an end to a two-game losing streak with a 19-9 victory over Syracuse and followed it up with a 37-7 shellacking of UVA. While this Pitt team may not be a repeat of the 2021 edition, this installment has the ability to win each game it plays. And that’s exactly what you’d expect from the 15th ranked defense. These guys only give up 4.88 yards per play and holds offenses to 309.8 yards per game. However, this team is only 60th in total offense. So, what does that team for Saturday?
Look, this is going to be one of the best defenses Duke has faced all year. The Blue Devils will have to make the gameplan simple and continue to do what they’ve done all year – run the football and keep the chains moving. But that may be hard because the Panthers only give up 97.7 rushing yards per game. So, what do you do then? Well, you try to get things going through the air which is where Pitt may be vulnerable at 212.1 yards per contest. With Leonard’s ability to scramble, and receivers like Jordan Moore, Robertson, Hagans and Calhoun, Duke may just find a way to put up enough points to get a win. It won’t be easy, but the football gods have seen the Blue Devils lose enough to the Panthers. Right? Isn’t it time that Duke get a win in this series? I sure think so. But, again, history has not been kind to our guys.
So, what can we expect on Saturday? Generally, these two teams typically put up high-scoring affairs. The current over/under is 52.5 which history would tell you to take. My only hesitation would be the relative strength of Pitt’s defense. So, um, yeah, don’t take any betting advice from me. Look, guys, I’m just kind of rambling to avoid making a prediction here because the football gods have been so, so unfair to us in this rivalry. To buy myself a little more time, let’s check in with our guest picker and friend of the podcast Dan Siegel who has this to say:
Pitt 28, Duke 24. These two teams are evenly matched enough to the point where I take Duke to cover, even on the road. That being said, Pitt has figured out their defense and their pass rush has especially been dominant, with 14 sacks over their past two games. With Duke’s offense predicated more on moving the ball in short chunks/avoiding mistakes rather than explosiveness, I’d say they fall just short.
Thanks, Dan, for doing this. If you like what Dan has to say, check out his podcast on YouTube.
I’m not going to pick the 7.5 point favorite in this game. No, I’m going with the Blue Devils to eek out an insanely close 30-24 win. Todd Pelino will hit a 40+ yarder to seal the game which will force Josh Cox into man crush territory. Write it down – I’m taking Duke to win and get to 8-3. This has been a great season for the Blue Devils and I know this team will be motivated to keep it going.
Now, that’s it for the game recap which means we’ve got another old-time tune. This one is called Big Scioty (aka Big Sciota). It’s a classic.
Great. Song.
Before we conclude, I’d like to take a minute to update you on dad’s treatment. He is starting chemotherapy today and is probably going through a rough time. Please pass on any prayers, good vibes and positive thoughts you all may have. Dad could use them. And I know he got a lot from the first and second set of messages, so hopefully he’ll get a lot more from whatever else you all can do for him.
That’s it for the game recap. Let me know what you think about what I think in the comments, on Twitter or on Reddit.
At the end of the 2021 season, the following Coastal teams hired new coaches – Duke, Miami, Virginia and Virginia Tech. Of those teams, only the Blue Devils, at 6-3, have a winning record. The Hurricanes and Cavaliers look like dumpster fires and the Hokies don’t look much better. In fact, at 2-7 (1-5), they are at the bottom of the division and appear to have a long way to go before they will be competitive again. But, as we’ve seen with Duke this season, change can happen fast.
Which brings us to what to expect on Saturday. Any rational observer would take the Blue Devils by a healthy margin. Virginia Tech is in the midst of a six game losing streak and is averaging only 20.22 points per game. But despite those two warning signs, the Hokies have a few things going for them. While scoring around 20 per outing isn’t great, Virginia Tech is only giving up 25.11 points per game. That means a lot of those losses are close ones. For example, the Hokies lost to Old Dominion by three, to Miami by six and to both NC State and the Yellow Jackets by one. While you are what your record says you are, close losses say that you’re not that far away from being competitive and may be able to win a game you shouldn’t.
That’s certainly possible given that Duke has an annoying habit of playing to the level of competition. The Blue Devils only managed to beat a bad Northwestern team by eight and nearly gave up a touchdown at the end of the game that, with a two-point conversion, could have sent it to overtime. On the road against Georgia Tech, Duke lost by a field goal in overtime. And then there was last week against Boston College. Do we need to go over that again? We don’t? Good. Then I’ll get to my point – this team hasn’t shown the ability to dominate lesser teams which puts them at risk against Virginia Tech. That’s especially true given that injuries are starting to catch up with the Blue Devils. First it was Maurice McIntyre. Then it was Eli Pancol. Now it’s Jacob Monk. And then there’s the whole running back situation. I’m not really sure what’s going on there, but it seemed like we’re starting to get thin at that spot.
So, you’re probably thinking that I’m taking the upset, right? Well you don’t know me like that. I’m with this team, ride or die. I’m going with Duke to win by a score of 31-20. The Blue Devils have the tools and they have the talent. Duke is better at most every position than their opponent. Further, despite the challenges that the injuries and inconsistent play have created, this team doesn’t like to lose and isn’t going to be satisfied with six wins and a bowl. There is a lot of senior leadership on this team which will hold everyone accountable. These guys are about one thing – winning. They won’t stand for anything less. I just don’t see the Blue Devils missing out on a chance to get to seven wins this Saturday.
But enough about what I think. Let’s check in with the guest picker, Matthew, who has this to say, “Duke 28 – Virginia Tech 13. Virginia Tech doesn’t have the talent to overcome mistakes.” Thanks, Matthew for doing this. You all can listen to his ACC podcast which he cohosts with friend of the podcast Jeffhere.
Now, as I’ve been doing of late, I’m going to drop an old-time tune that me and Tim recorded a while back. It’s called “Seneca Square Dance” (aka Waiting for the Federals) and is one of my favorite old-time tunes. You probably all remember the cover that we did of this song earlier this year. Well, here’s what it sounds like without a great singer putting some lyrics to it. Enjoy!
Such a good song.
That’s it for the game preview. Let me know what you think about what I think in the comments, on Reddit or Twitter!
Folks, it finally happened. After a lot of requests from fans, Anthony Boone and I were able to connect for a great, great talk about Duke football, QB Country and the mindset it takes to overcome devastating injuries.
– Anthony gets a TD against Virginia Tech in 2013.
During our talk, Anthony discussed what it took to win at Duke, provides great advice on how to maintain success over multiple seasons and what it was like sharing snaps with Brandon Connette (aka The Phantom). As we discussed the Blue Devils’ current season, Anthony gave some great insight on what Coach Elko and the staff are doing in Durham. You also learn a lot about the DukeGang mindset that his era personified.
Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t take the opportunity point out that while Anthony has some impressive clients at QB Country, it sure sounds like he may be a sleeper agent who is funneling top prospects to Chapel Hill College. We’ve got to correct this, folks! Anthony, get your guys to Durham!!!
In all seriousness, this interview was a blast. You’ll enjoy every minute of it and I hope we can have him back on soon.
At 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Duke will have an opportunity to get to six wins and become bowl eligible for the first time since 2018. To do that, the Blue Devils will have to beat Boston College on the road. On paper, this looks like a definite win. But, as we all know, games aren’t played on paper. So, what can we expect to see in this game?
From Duke, we are going to see an offense without Eli Pancol who may be out for the rest of the year with a lower leg injury. That’s unfortunate, but there is depth at that position. One of the receivers will have to step up, be it Hagans, Robertson, Bowen-Sims, etc., or a combination thereof. Hopefully Coach Johns will find a way to increase the usage of Jordan Moore and Nicky Dalmolin. Those two should help Riley Leonard manage the loss of such a key player in Pancol. But the best way to help the offense will be to keep running the ball. A lot. This team is putting up more than 200 yards per game, so keep going with what works. And with the offense facing a team that is 61st in total defense and gives up an average of 367.2 yards per game, I expect the offense to put up yards and points. A lot of them. I mean, this is a defense that gave up 27 to a bad Virginia Tech team. Given that, expect the visiting team to put up just a tad more than 27.
On the defensive end of the ball, and this gets into what we can expect to see from the Eagles, I’d expect the Blue Devil defensive line to shut down the running game and make Boston College one-dimensional. The Eagles are only putting up 67.5 rushing yards per outing (you read that right), so look for Carter and Franklin to feast. Boston College has also given up 29 sacks so far. Again, expect the DL and LBs (looking at you, Shaka) to feast and for the secondary to jump routes to try and create turnovers. And given that the Eagles have thrown nine picks so far, I wouldn’t be surprised to see that trend continue here. As far as what I think will happen, I expect the Duke secondary to get some picks or otherwise for the Blue Devil defense as a whole to create turnovers via strip-sacks, fumbles, or both.
Evaluating the matchup from a big picture perspective, Duke is in good shape heading into this game despite the Pancol injury as it will take on an opponent in the midst of a bad, bad season. Boston College is 1-4 in conference, 2-6 overall and is currently suffering through a three game losing streak including a bad one against UConn. The Eagles have only posted wins against Maine and, somewhat surprisingly, Louisville. But that win came before the Cardinals started to get hot. Putting aside the relative merits of the win, it’s a still a win and it ought to tell the Blue Devils not to overlook their opponent. While Boston College hasn’t done much to write home about this season, Duke absolutely cannot ignore a conference opponent. This team can’t afford a repeat of what happened against Georgia Tech.
So, who will win this game? Well, the Blue Devils are somewhere between a 9.5 and a 10.5 point favorite over the Eagles. Our guest picker, Freddie Hodges, is saying to take the Bull City Boys to cover and provides the following analysis of the game –
Boston College hit a new low losing to UConn. That was Uconn’s first win over a Power Five opponent since the Huskies beat Virginia in September 2016. Duke is coming off a bye week and Vegas has the current line at -9.5 in Duke’s favor with the Over/Under at 48.5. Sometimes a team can be a little rusty coming off a bye week. I also have to take into account that BC is looking for a win after that upset last week and have a home game on a Friday night when I think more fans would be likely to come out for a Friday night lights game instead of say a 12:30 kickoff day game. Even with all of that said… I think Coach Elko has this team ready for an away night game and Duke covers the spread and I am going with the Over as well. Duke 41 BC 13.
Thanks, Freddie, for prediction and the analysis. It is appreciated! You all can follow Freddie’s work at Blue Devils Blog. He has some great content.
As for me, I am also taking Duke to win 41-13. Given that the Hokies put up 27, you have to think that the Blue Devils will put up 14 more. All things considered, I think Duke will come out hungry and ready to clinch bowl eligibility. The 2022 Blue Devils are different than prior iterations and won’t miss an opportunity to go bowling.
Now, before I close the post out, I wanted to let you all know that I’m trying to expand the brand by going to a few more social media sites. As a result, you can find me on Reddit and Mastodon. I’ve tried Counter Social, but I’m not sure how to use it yet and I’m not sure I’ll stick with it (same with Mastodon – we’ll see how it plays out). Regardless, the Duke football subreddit is pretty cool and we could always use more folks there. Check it out when you can.
Also, I’m going to try and post a little more music here. So, what follows is a recording of an old-time tune called “June Apple” that Tim and I did. We hope you enjoy it. Tim is on fiddle and I’m on guitar.
Nice tune, right?
That’s it for the game preview. Let me know what you think about what I think in the comments or on Twitter, Reddit or Mastodon.
As you know, I’m a little tied up this week with family stuff, so I’m foregoing the typical game preview. Instead, what we have is a collection of messages for Dad. I can’t say enough about how much it means to our family that you all were kind enough to send out good vibes, prayers, etc. and to take the time to send along messages of support. I apologize for the poor audio quality at times. I’m battling a cold and trying not to cough, sneeze, etc. Thank you all so much for doing this. The Duke Football Community is a special thing!
And special thanks to Mike Kline for returning to the site as this week’s guest picker. We both have the Blue Devils beating Miami. Listen to the messages for his score prediction.
Bull City Coordinators - A Duke Football and Roman History Blog 