 QUICK THOUGHTS
As the Duke Blue Devils prepare to kick off their 2024 football season against the Elon Phoenix this Friday, August 30th, all eyes are on their new head coach, Manny Diaz. Diaz, known for his defensive mindset and dynamic leadership, is set to bring a fresh perspective to the program while aiming to continue on the recent momentum of Duke football. This season opener will provide the first glimpse of the changes Diaz is implementing and how the Blue Devils plan to make a mark in the ACC this year as well. Friday’s game is more than just the start of a new season; it marks the beginning of a new chapter for Duke football under Manny Diaz’s leadership. As the Blue Devils take the field, the anticipation is high among fans. With a new coach, new strategies, and a renewed sense of purpose, Duke football is poised to make a statement. The clash with Elon will be the first test, and fans are eager to see how the Blue Devils rise to the occasion SCORE PREDICTION The Duke Blue Devils will take the field against the Elon Phoenix at Wallace Wade Stadium, eager to start the Manny Diaz era with a resounding victory. While Elon will be determined to play spoiler and make a big statement against their in-state opponent, it’s hard to envision that happening. Duke football is likely to come out of the gate strong and not look back. As of this writing, the current odds from FanDuel favor Duke by -23.5 points, with the Over/Under set at 49.5 points. I'm taking the Over at 49.5, with confidence that Duke will cover the spread and secure a convincing win in the first game of the Manny Diaz era. The Blue Devils have the talent, strategy, and new leadership to dominate this matchup, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead. DUKE 44 ELON 10
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 The College Football Season Has Arrived! The wait is over—college football season is finally here! Along with the action on the field, Brian Kennedy of Duke Football Talk and I are back with our weekly bowl projections. Love them or hate them, our Week 1 predictions are here to stir the pot and get the conversation going. Check out where we think Duke Football is headed this season! Brian Kennedy of Duke Football Talk Duke fans...WE ARE BACK! What a crazy off-season this program experienced with Mike Elko riding off into the midnight skies, heading to College Station. But never fear, as Nina King did her thing and brought in the best possible replacement in one Manny Diaz. Along with the coaching change, Duke lost some key veterans in the likes of Riley Leonard, Graham Barton, Dewayne Carter and Jacob Monk. But as we have seen with this program, it is a "Next man up mentality" As we inch closer to the Elon game, I am very very excited about the possibilities of this 2024 season. There are new faces in at certain positions on the squad, and from what I have seen at Duke practices so far, this season could be better than most think. Remember folks, when Mike Elko came in as head coach, EVERYONE had this team in the ballpark of 3-9 or 4-8 year 1. And like clockwork, I am seeing it again. Change is tough, but as Duke fans have seen, change isn't always bad. Duke's schedule is a very favorable one to start with 4 very winnable non-conference games. Then you look at the first 2 ACC games on the schedule against Chapel Hill College, and Georgia Tech, and Duke could be close to bowl eligibility before we hit Halloween. There are still some very tough games on the schedule with the likes of FSU, NC State and Virginia Tech, but I believe! With that being said, I am still sticking with my 8-4 prediction that I stated on our episode on the Section 17 podcast, and have Duke playing in the Fenway Bowl. Here's to a great start to the season, and hopefully we see as many of you in Wallace Wade as possible!  Freddie Hodges of Duke Report What a roller coaster last season was for Duke fans! From the exhilarating upset over Clemson on Labor Day night, propelling the team to a 4-0 start, to the electric atmosphere of hosting ESPN College GameDay against Notre Dame—only to suffer a heartbreaking loss and watch Riley Leonard injure his ankle. And just when you thought the drama was over, Coach Mike Elko made a shocking midnight departure for Texas A&M at the end of the regular season. Yet, despite all the chaos, Duke regrouped and capped off an 8-5 season with a well-earned victory over Troy in the Birmingham Bowl. Last season was a wild ride from start to finish—one that Duke fans won’t soon forget! A new chapter begins for Duke Football as Manny Diaz steps in as head coach, ready to build on the team’s recent momentum. Coach Diaz and his staff are eager to keep the bowl game streak alive, but the road ahead in 2024 is anything but easy. The season starts with promise—I see Duke kicking off strong, potentially going 4-0. Challenging matchups against Georgia Tech and Chapel Hill College will test the Blue Devils, but my prediction? Duke storms through the first half of the season, hitting 6-0 and securing bowl eligibility by early October. But here’s where the journey gets tough. The back half of the schedule is a gauntlet, with Duke facing FSU, SMU, Miami, NC State, and Virginia Tech in rapid succession, before closing out on the road against Wake Forest. It’s a brutal stretch that will for sure challenge this Duke team. Even with this roller coaster of a schedule, I have Duke finishing the season at 7-5, earning a spot in the Gasparilla Bowl in sunny Tampa. So here’s to an exciting season ahead! Let’s pack Wallace Wade Stadium and cheer on the Blue Devils as they tackle what’s sure to be a thrilling ride!  Make sure to check back here at Blue Devils Blog every week for our latest bowl projections. We’ll keep you updated as the season unfolds!
 Ready to take a deep dive into the world of college football? Buckle up as Duke Report gives you an in-depth look at the upcoming season, complete with 12 team playoff predictions, ACC season forecasts, and exciting ACC bowl projections. After going down the rabbit hole of countless team schedules, matchups, and stats, I’ve emerged with some bold predictions for the season ahead. Let’s break it down and see how the gridiron battles might play out. Check Out the Video Below for an In-Depth Dive  Duke Report - ACC Ballot below for ACC PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH 1 Florida State 2 Virginia Tech 3 SMU 4 Clemson 5 Miami (FL) 6 NC State 7 Louisville 8 North Carolina 9 California 10 Duke 11 Pittsburgh 12 Wake Forest 13 Syracuse 14 Virginia 15 Georgia Tech 16 Boston College 17 Stanford  Duke Report - College Football Playoff Predictions
SEC Georgia Texas LSU Ole Miss Big 10 Ohio State Oregon Penn State ACC FSU VT Big 12 Utah G5 Liberty Independent Notre Dame Duke National Champs Scheyer, Hurley to Meet as Head Coaches in 'Brotherhood Run' Charity Game8/21/2024  From Duke Sports Information
Duke men's basketball national champions Jon Scheyer and Bobby Hurley will meet on the hardwood as opposing head coaches when Duke hosts Arizona State in the Brotherhood Run charity exhibition game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit Duke Children's Hospital. "We are excited about the Brotherhood Run, playing Arizona State for a charity exhibition game. This is the first time we've done something like this," said Scheyer. "Duke Children's Hospital has been a great partner to our program for a long time, starting with Coach K, and to keep that relationship going means a lot to me and to our program. We couldn't be more excited to partner with them to raise funds and awareness for all the incredible work they are doing." Hurley, a 2011 Duke Athletics Hall of Fame inductee whose number 11 jersey was retired by Duke on Feb. 28, 1993, broke the NCAA men's basketball record for career assists with 1,076 and sparked the Blue Devils to a four-year record of 119-26 (.821) with three Final Four appearances and back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992. In addition to his record-breaking assists, the 1992 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player and two-time All-America selection (1992, 1993) amassed career totals of 1,731 points, 306 rebounds and 202 steals from 1989-93. "I've always had a ton of respect and admiration for Bobby Hurley," said Scheyer. "He's one of the all-time great players to ever play college basketball, let alone Duke. His 1991 team was the team that won our first national championship, and his 1992 team was the team where I fell in love with Duke and fell in love with college basketball. The records, the national championships and wins speak for themselves, but to me it's the tenacity that he played with, the incredible competitiveness and toughness, and coming through in the big-time moments. It's an honor to play this game and celebrate Bobby at Duke. It's also a great opportunity for both teams to compete at a high level before the season starts." Hurley enters his 10th season on the Sun Devils' bench with 155 victories, ranking third among Arizona State head coaches. The former Duke guard has guided ASU to four 20-win campaigns and three trips to the NCAA tournament. "I'm grateful to Jon Scheyer and Duke Basketball for working with Arizona State Basketball to make this exhibition game a reality," said Hurley. "It will be special for me to return to Cameron Indoor. Our team is excited for the opportunity to compete against a storied basketball program prior to embarking on our regular season schedule. The collaboration between Duke and Arizona State to put together this charity exhibition game supporting Duke Children's Hospital is very meaningful to both programs." Duke and Arizona State have met on the hardwood just once, a 64-53 Blue Devils' victory at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 25, 2009. Scheyer, in his senior season at Duke, recorded game highs of 16 points and six assists, while also grabbing four rebounds. Ticket information for the Brotherhood Run charity exhibition game benefiting Duke Children's Hospital will be announced at a later date. Tickets for this charity event are not part of the Duke men's basketball season ticket package.  Duke basketball fans, get ready—because the Blue Devils just dropped their non-conference schedule last Thursday, and it’s packed with exciting games to look forward to. From the very start, Duke isn’t holding back, taking on some tough competition before diving into ACC play. It’s clear they’re coming out swinging, ready to make every game count.
Below is list of non-conference games including Countdown to Craziness. October 4th - Countdown To Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina November 4th - vs Maine at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina November 8th - vs Army at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham North Carolina November 12th - vs Kentucky - Champions Classic at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia November 16th - vs Wofford at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina November 22nd - vs Arizona at McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, Arizona November 26th - vs Kansas at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada November 29th - vs Seattle at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina December 4th - vs Auburn - ACC/SEC Challenge at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina December 10th - vs Incarnate Word at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina December 17th - vs George Mason at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina February 22nd - vs Illinois at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York Quick Thoughts Duke basketball is gearing up for a thrilling season, and it all starts with a non-conference schedule that’s nothing short of intense. The Blue Devils have two home games (excluding preseason) (vs Maine and vs Army) to get warmed up before they hit the road for a showdown with another blue-blooded powerhouse—Kentucky—in the Champions Classic. With Duke holding a 3-1 record against Kentucky in this iconic event, you can bet the Wildcats will be out for revenge. This one has all the makings of a top-25 clash. Next up, Duke will face Wofford at home before heading out to Arizona. Last season, Caleb Love and company stunned Duke with a win at Cameron Indoor Stadium, so you know Blue Devil fans are itching to return the favor by handing Love a loss in his fifth and final college season. This game is shaping up to be a top-10, if not top-25, matchup, and it’s sure to bring the heat. Just four days later, Duke is back on the road for another marquee game, this time against Kansas in the 2024 Vegas Showdown at T-Mobile Arena. This neutral court battle in Las Vegas could very well be a top-5 matchup, and if it’s anything like Duke’s thrilling win over Gonzaga in Vegas back in 2021, fans are in for a treat. Expect the Blue Devil faithful to show up in force, ready to paint Sin City blue. Duke will wrap up November with a home game against Seattle, and by that point, there’s a real possibility the Blue Devils will have already played three top-25 matchups. But the action doesn’t stop there—December kicks off with a bang as Duke takes on Auburn at Cameron Indoor Stadium as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. With Bruce Pearl pacing the sidelines and the Cameron Crazies bringing their A game, this contest has top-10 potential written all over it. Duke might just open up ACC play that first Saturday of December, meaning the Blue Devils could potentially have faced four top-25 opponents before even starting their conference schedule. The non-conference slate continues with home games against Incarnate Word on December 10th and George Mason on December 17th. But there’s one more surprise—a mid season non-conference game against Illinois at Cameron North... I mean Madison Square Garden on February 22nd. This game is a perfect way to shake things up in the middle of ACC play, offering a neutral court test against a possible NCAA Tourney team just weeks before the NCAA Tournament kicks off. Duke’s non-conference schedule is packed with potential top-25 matchups, both at home, on the road and neutral court that will undoubtedly have the Blue Devils battle-tested and ready for the ACC grind as well as March Madness. Keep it locked here at Blue Devils Blog, where we’ll be breaking down the Top 10 Games of the Duke Basketball Season once the full ACC schedule drops. You won’t want to miss it. Duke Football Season Record Prediction The Duke football season starts two weeks from today as Duke will kick off the season in Wallace Wade Stadium against Elon Friday night of Labor Day weekend. After attending the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte in July and breaking down the schedule... I predict Duke Football to go 7 - 5 in the first season under new head coach Manny Diaz and become bowl eligible. Click on the video link below to hear more from a game by game basis on my season record prediction. Preseason Bowl Projection I have went back and forth on my preseason bowl projections. Look... these are bowl projections and are for entertainment. Don't take them seriously as nobody knows how the college football season will shake out. I first started with the Wasabi Fenway Bowl but then changed to the Bad Boys Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. After doing a go down the rabbit hole break down of the entire ACC teams season record predictions and bowl projections... (my article and video for all ACC teams record and bowl projections to come out soon) I changed my Duke football bowl projection again. I have Duke Football heading down to Tampa, Florida for the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. Click on the Youtube video below to hear more from a game by game basis about Duke Report - 2024 Duke Football Season Record Prediction & Early Bowl Projection.  |
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