 We are back with Week 10 Duke Football Bowl Projections from Brian of Duke Football Talk and Freddie of Duke Report. Check out where we think Duke Football is headed. Brian Kennedy of Duke Football Talk Duke fans, these heartbreaking losses are getting tougher and tougher to swallow. Duke SHOULD have defeated SMU and gone 7-1, but as the saying goes, "Close, but no cigar" Even with the loss this past Saturday night, I am somewhat optimistic that Duke will hang with Miami in Coral Gables this weekend. Will we see a 3rd straight Duke win in Miami? Only time will tell. Speaking of last Saturday, Duke welcomed the Sun Bowl reps to the game. While I am happy to see all these bowls at Duke games, the Sun Bowl, along with the Holiday Bowl are 2 cannot go to bowl games for ol BK. With that being said, even with the loss, Duke is still 6-2, and only 1 of 5 ACC teams who has already punched their ticket to bowl season. Coastal Chaos is still around, and 10 ACC teams still have a chance to become bowl eligible. So while these 10 teams continue to fight to keep their postseason chances alive, I still have Duke solidly grounded in Charlotte in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. Things can always change, and if Duke were able to pull off a huge upset of Miami, they could be moving destinations.  Freddie Hodges of Duke Report The game against SMU last Saturday is another one of those losses that won’t soon be forgotten. Now if Duke can upset Miami this week, then that SMU loss might fade out of Duke fans memories a little easier possibly. Even though the loss was a gut punch with the way it went down, Duke football is still bowl eligible at 6-2 with the potential to win more games this season. In my opinion, I think at NC State and vs Wake Forest are very winnable games with at Miami and vs Virginia Tech being games that Duke will need to find a way to be firing on all cylinders to win The Duke defense is playing like a playoff team while the offense and special teams still need to find a rhythm as this season is getting ready to wind down. As for my bowl projection, I am sticking with Duke heading to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte for the fourth week running. The close game with SMU makes me think Duke can hold their own against a very tough Miami team and possibly shake things up in this Coastal… I mean “ACC Chaos”.  Be sure to check back here at Blue Devils Blog every week for our latest bowl projections. With Duke travelling to Coral Gables to take on #5 ranked Miami this weekend there’s plenty of potential for these projections to shift either with Duke pulling off the upset over Miami or Duke losing back to back games. We’ll keep you updated as the season unfolds!
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 The game may not have been close, but it was unforgettable. Duke showcased a dominant defensive performance in the first half, followed by an explosive offensive display in the second. With a staggering 66-26 scoring margin in the second half, the Blue Devils lit up the court, sinking 15 of 23 three-pointers for an impressive 65.2% shooting from beyond the arc. As the final buzzer sounded, Duke won with a decisive 103-47 victory, despite star players Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel logging just over 20 minutes each. More than just a preseason matchup, the Brotherhood Run served as a charity exhibition benefiting Duke Children's Hospital. The event celebrated Duke basketball, highlighted by the presence of Bobby Hurley, widely regarded as the greatest point guard in college basketball history. Hurley, the all-time assists leader with 1,076 and whose jersey hangs in the rafters of Cameron Indoor Stadium, brought his Arizona State team to Duke. There, Coach K watched proudly as two of his former players went head-to-head in a coaching showdown on the court. Hurley and Jon Scheyer, instrumental in securing three of Duke's five national championship banners as players (with Scheyer adding a fourth as an assistant coach in 2015), took center stage as they faced off on Coach K Court. The score of this exhibition may fade from memory, but the sight of Hurley coaching against Scheyer with Coach K observing will linger in the hearts of Duke fans. It was truly a special night for the Brotherhood. Up next, Duke will kick off its regular season against Maine on Monday November 4th, at Cameron Indoor Stadium.   We are back with Week 9 Duke Football Bowl Projections from Brian of Duke Football Talk and Freddie of Duke Report. Check out where we think Duke Football is headed. Brian Kennedy of Duke Football Talk Duke fans, as I write this projection, it is good to know that no matter what happens from here on out, Duke football is still bowling. Now don't get me wrong, we all want more wins, so this team heads to a top tier bowl game. Heck, I myself was able to speak with the bowl reps from the Pop Tarts and the Gator Bowls this past weekend, and they all had nothing but good things to say about Duke. And speaking of this past weekend, how about your Blue Devils finally getting the monkey off their back and beating FSU! It was not the prettiest of games, but as they say, a win is a win. Now we head into the hardest part (In my opinion) of the 2024 schedule. This weekend the pony riders come into town, and then Duke heads to Coral Gable for a matchup against #6 Miami. At this point, if Duke goes at least 1-1 these next 2 weeks, the chances only go up to head down south postseason. For now however, I am holding steady with Duke and their bowl destination. I still this week have the Blue Devils in Charlotte in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. There are still 5 games left in the season, and the more wins this team gets, the better. Do everything you can to make it out to Wallace Wade this weekend, this team deserves the support!  Freddie Hodges of Duke Report Under the Friday night lights at Wallace Wade Stadium Duke secured a 23-16 victory over Florida State, marking their first win against the Seminoles and officially making them bowl eligible. It feels so good to be bowl eligible just past the halfway mark of the season! Duke's success continues to be driven by its solid defense, but they'll need their offense to find its rhythm in the upcoming games, which promise to be fierce battles. This Saturday, the #22 ranked SMU, a new member of the ACC, will visit Durham, followed by a challenging road matchup against #6 ranked Miami next week. These games will be tough, but if Duke can manage a 1-1 split, as Brian suggests, their chances of heading south for a top tier bowl increase significantly. Looking ahead, Duke wraps up the season with games at NC State, home against Virginia Tech, and on the road at Wake Forest. While I initially viewed a couple of these matchups as likely losses in my preseason predictions, the unpredictable nature of "Coastal Chaos"... wait I mean "ACC Chaos" has me reconsidering. For now, the focus must remain on the upcoming challenge against SMU, which looks to be a tough battle under the lights at Wallace Wade Stadium. As for my bowl projection, I'm sticking with the Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte for the third week running. With five games left to play, there's potential for my projections to head north or south in terms of a bowl destinations. Here's to hoping Duke can clinch a victory over SMU Saturday night! Be sure to check back here at Blue Devils Blog every week for our latest bowl projections. With the next two games on the schedule being very tough battles (vs. SMU and at Miami), there’s plenty of potential for these projections to shift. We’ll keep you updated as the season unfolds!  The game started slowly, but Duke Basketball quickly found its rhythm, overwhelming Lincoln with a decisive 107 - 56 victory. Cooper Flagg set the tone early, scoring 22 points, leading the team in scoring. Tyrese Proctor added 19 points, while Kon Knueppel surprised some with 17 points, including a spectacular one-handed dunk that sent Cameron Indoor Stadium into a frenzy. Another highlight of Saturday's matchup was Spencer Hubbard's basket toward the end of the game, which ignited celebrations on the Duke bench as the atmosphere in Cameron was electric. While this win was comfortable for Duke, the road ahead promises to be challenging, with a tough schedule lined up for November and December before ACC play even begins. This game marked the first of two preseason contests for Duke, with an exhibition against Arizona State scheduled for this Sunday, October 27th, before the regular season kicks off on November 4th against Maine. Coach Jon Scheyer noted the players' eagerness to compete against someone other than themselves. "The first thing is our guys get tired of playing against each other. I think we've had 63 days of summer workouts, preseason, and practice. So you get tired of it. The second thing is we have a very specific kind of group. We're bigger. We're longer. I'm not sure we're the quickest team in the country. So, to see that quickness, I think was really helpful. And then, just to see different schemes and play against some different bodies, I think that's what's so helpful about it." Cooper Flagg expressed his excitement for his first game in Cameron: " It was incredibly special. It's something I've dreamed about since I was young, playing college basketball, and I dreamed about playing at Duke as well. So just getting that experience, the first time playing against a real opponent, it was kind of surreal." Looking ahead, Duke's schedule is packed with thrilling matchups, including an exhibition against Bobby Hurley's Arizona State this Sunday, as well as neutral-site games against Kentucky in Atlanta, Kansas in Vegas, and Illinois in New York. Cooper Flagg commented to me when I asked him about the schedule saying, "I look forward to the next game all the time. I just try to take it day by day." Though it was just the first exhibition game, the excitement is here as Duke Basketball is back at Cameron Indoor Stadium, setting the stage for a thrilling season ahead filled with blockbuster games.   Under the Friday night lights at Wallace Wade Stadium, Duke Football claimed a 23-16 victory over Florida State, becoming bowl eligible. The Blue Devils were powered by an impressive defensive performance, racking up 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, and forcing four turnovers that resulted in 17 points. One highlight of the night came early when Chandler Rivers returned a 36-yard interception for a touchdown, setting the tone for Duke’s defense. You can watch this incredible play on our YouTube channel or Twitter @DukeReport, as I captured the entire moment on my iPhone by surprise from the sideline. Duke continued to pressure FSU into turnovers, ultimately securing their first-ever win over the Seminoles. With this victory, Duke reaches bowl eligibility just past the halfway mark of the season. Manny Diaz reflected on the hard-fought, low-scoring game in his postgame press conference. See video below for his opening statement. Up next, Duke faces a tough challenge as they take on 6-1 SMU at home in Wallace Wade Stadium this Saturday at 8 PM. It’s shaping up to be another exciting night under the lights and possibly their toughest battle yet this season.  QUICK THOUGHTS Duke football is coming off a much-needed bye week following its first loss of the season to Georgia Tech. Not many expected Duke to be 5-1 at this point, and even fewer could have predicted the dramatic turn Florida State's season has taken. To be honest, I had FSU pegged as one of my preseason playoff teams. Now, Florida State heads to Durham with a disappointing 1-5 record (1-4 in the ACC) to face a 5-1 Duke team eager to secure bowl eligibility as the season crosses the halfway mark. Let’s talk numbers. Florida State’s offensive production so far reads like this: 21, 13, 12, 9, 16, 13. That’s the point total they’ve put up in each game. On the other hand, Duke's defense has been a dominant force, ranking first in the NCAA in tackles for loss per game. The challenge for Duke? Their offense is still a work in progress. All of this has me leaning toward a low-scoring game and considering the under. SCORE PREDICTION
At the time of writing, Duke is favored by 3.5 points, with the Over/Under set at 42.5. There’s a part of me that believes Duke will come out strong and maintain a comfortable double-digit lead throughout the game. But there’s also that nagging thought: Despite all that’s gone wrong for FSU this season, could they show up with a fight when they are backed into a corner? Vegas has the spread at -3.5, and while my heart wants a Duke blowout, I’m predicting a close contest. Ultimately, I think Duke secures win number six and locks in bowl eligibility under the Friday night lights at Wallace Wade Stadium. Duke 21 Florida State 17  Yeah, we took Week 7 off from bowl projections since Duke was on a bye, but we’re back with Week 8 Duke Football Bowl Projections from Brian of Duke Football Talk and Freddie of Duke Report. Check out where we think Duke Football is headed as the season progresses! Brian Kennedy of Duke Football Talk Well Duke fans, it has been a relaxing BYE week. However, the thought of Duke losing to Georgia Tech is still on my mind. Without a doubt, Georgia Tech was the most balanced team that Duke has faced so far this year. We all knew that first loss was coming, we just hoped it had been after Duke won its 6th game of the year. The ACC is also starting to show that it is full of bowl worthy, No not you FSU, teams. 7 teams already have 5 wins or more at the halfway mark of the season. Virginia, Louisville and Boston College have 4 wins, and State, CHC, Virginia Tech and Cal have 3 wins. How crazy would it be to have 12-14 teams all bowl eligible. Speaking of bowls, Duke is relocating after the loss to the Yellow Jackets. I might have jinxed the Blue Devils by saying I saw them in Orlando. Sorry, I am just excited at the prospect of heading down to the land of microwavable pastries. This week, I have Duke back in Charlotte for the Duke's Mayo Bowl. If you are in the area this Friday night, try your hardest to make it to Wallace Wade to cheer on Duke as they could potentially get the monkey off their back and finally defeat Florida State. Freddie Hodges of Duke Report Welcome back! We took last week off with Duke on a bye. In my preseason projections, I had Duke going 6-0, but even with their first loss of the season, this Georgia Tech team was the most complete opponent Duke has faced so far. Still, I’m thrilled to see Duke starting 5-1—something many media outlets didn’t expect. Now, Duke is still just one win away from bowl eligibility. "Coastal Chaos" is alive and well—only now, it spans the entire ACC. As Brian mentioned, "Seven teams already have five wins or more at the halfway mark of the season." Virginia has been the surprise of the conference, boasting a 4-2 overall record and 2-1 in ACC play. With this momentum, it’s increasingly likely that double-digit ACC teams could be bowl-eligible this season. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m rooting for Notre Dame to make the playoff—just so they aren't given a top-tier bowl from the ACC. With so many ACC teams potentially going bowling, we might see some interesting shakeups, with teams landing in bowls you wouldn’t normally expect. Despite the loss to Georgia Tech, I’m sticking with my previous projection: Duke still heading to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte. However, if Duke pulls off a win against Florida State this Friday night, I just might have to shake up that prediction. Be sure to check back here at Blue Devils Blog every week for our latest bowl projections. With the season at its halfway point, there’s still plenty of room for these predictions to evolve. We’ll keep you updated as the season unfolds!
 From Duke Sports Information The Duke men's basketball team tipped off its 2024-25 season with the annual Countdown to Craziness event on Friday, Oct. 4, inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The night started with each player on the Duke women's basketball team being introduced to fans, head coach Kara Lawson addressing the crowd and the team playing a 12-minute scrimmage. The men's team was next up for player introductions, followed by third-year head coach Jon Scheyer. The Blue Devils then played two 10-minute games, with Team White prevailing in game one, 20-17, while Team Blue pulled away in game two, 37-21. Isaiah Evans led Team White in game one with eight points, while Cooper Flagg led the team in game two with nine points. For Team Blue, Kon Knueppel scored eight points in the first game before Caleb Foster exploded for 14 points, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, in game two. HOW IT HAPPENED In game one, Darren Harris opened Team Blue's scoring with a fast-break three-pointer. Kon Knueppel added a three-pointer of his own on the team's next trip down the floor to make it an early six-point lead. Tyrese Proctor got Team White on the board from the charity stripe, just over two minutes into action. A three-pointer from Sion James followed by a runner by Cooper Flagg gave Team White its first lead of the night, 7-6. Team White edged out Team Blue in the first game, 20-17. Knueppel led his team with eight points alongside four rebounds and two assists, while Isaiah Evans' eight points paced Team White in the first half. Team Blue raced out to a quick six-point lead in game two, before Flagg's putback layup and reverse dunk on back-to-back possessions narrowed the margin to just two, 6-4, for Team White. Khaman Maluach knocked down a three-pointer with just over seven minutes on the clock. Following a response from deep by Proctor for Team White, back-to-back connections from beyond the arc by Caleb Foster and Neal Begovich gave their squad a double-digit lead, 17-7. At the media timeout of the second game, Team Blue held a 25-9 advantage. Two free throws by Evans pulled Team White within 13 points, 28-15, with two minutes remaining in game two, but Team Blue held on over the final 90 seconds for the victory in game two, 37-21. QUOTES "It's great to be back in Cameron, earlier than ever, but we wanted to that just so our guys could get a feel for what it's like playing here. For me, this is 14 or 15, in terms of Countdowns. And every time I see the crowd lining up of students, it's the best. I feel we have the pieces to have a really good team. You can see we're still far away from putting it all together, and we need to be a defensive-minded team. Naturally, as a younger team, you think about offense more. But for us, that's going to be the step where we can really become a special team, when we're thinking about defense first, second, and third, and then offense will take care of it itself. We have a group that plays hard naturally. They compete. It was amazing for me watching. Eight of the 10 players on the court have never played a game here in a Duke uniform. So, I'm just happy they could experience that." - head coach Jon Scheyer "It's an unbelievable feeling. This is definitely one of the most competitive teams I've been on, so it's good to get out there and get the juices flowing in Cameron in front of the best fans in the world. I just like to remind everybody that we're blessed to be in the position that we are. Not a lot of players get to come and play at Duke and play in this environment. It's definitely a blessing, so just cherish the moment because it goes by quick. I remember last year, after Countdown, the season just flew by so fast. Cherish every moment." - sophomore guard Caleb Foster "Incredible environment. You can't really describe it, the feeling when you're out there playing. It was a great feeling, just to be out there and get my first feel in Cameron. I can't wait [to play another team]. I look forward to that every single day. I'm just trying to get better in practice and looking forward to getting somebody else [to play against]." - freshman guard/forward Cooper Flagg  QUICK THOUGHTS Duke enters this matchup on a high after defeating North Carolina to retain the Victory Bell for the first time in six years. Fans stormed the field in celebration, marking a truly epic moment for the Blue Devils. Georgia Tech, on the other hand, is coming off a loss to Louisville and will be eager to get back on track. Now, the Blue Devils head down to Georgia, aiming to remain undefeated and become bowl eligible. This could be their toughest test yet, as Georgia Tech will be the most complete team Duke has faced so far this season. Coming off a bye week, the Yellow Jackets have had extra time to prepare and regroup after losses to ACC foes Syracuse and Louisville this season. SCORE PREDICTION
The key to this game will be how effectively Duke’s defense can disrupt a steady Georgia Tech offense. Duke’s defense has been a difference-maker all season, and that trend will need to continue if they hope to leave Atlanta with a win. The betting line has shifted even more in Georgia Tech’s favor this week, with the Yellow Jackets now favored by 9.5 points and the Over/Under set at 54.5. In my preseason predictions, I had Duke starting the season 6-0, and I’m sticking with that. This Blue Devil team has shown tremendous heart, consistently proving to be the stronger side in the fourth quarter. I expect another gritty performance, and I’m predicting a hard-fought win for Duke to secure bowl eligibility. Additionally, I’m taking the Under, as I think Duke’s defense will create enough chaos to keep the score down. Duke 24 Georgia Tech 21  We are back with Week 6 Duke Football Bowl Projections from Brian of Duke Football Talk and Freddie of Duke Report. Check out where we think Duke Football is headed. Brian Kennedy of Duke Football Talk Duke fans, we have reached the halfway point of the season, and I am on the verge of needing heart meds. With that being said, WHAT A GAME SATURDAY NIGHT! The victory bell has finally come home, and the Blue Devils overcame what some would say was impossible odds against CHC. Even better, I was able to experience the retaking of the bell on the field with Freddie. This Duke team has silenced a ton of the neigh sayers already going 5-0, and this weekend, they face their toughest test of the season against a very balanced Georgia Tech team. A win this weekend, and the skies the limit as the Blue Devils will be bowl eligible, with 6 games left to play. As far as my bowl projection, the Blue Devils are back on the move for me. This past Saturday, I actually spoke with the Pop-Tart Bowl scouts before the game, and they had nothing but positive things to say about Duke. I call this an omen of things to come, which is why I now have the Blue Devils down in Orlando playing in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.  Freddie Hodges of Duke Report As the famous LL Cool J once said, "Don't call it a comeback." But that's exactly what Duke Football pulled off, erasing a 20-point deficit with an impressive surge of 21 unanswered points in the second half to beat North Carolina. For the first time in six years, the Victory Bell stays in Durham! What an exhilarating fourth quarter it was! As Brian mentioned, we had the privilege of witnessing this incredible comeback live on the sideline and sharing in the celebration with the players and fans. This win easily ranks among my top 10 all-time sports experiences and is one I’ll never forget. This Duke team has a lot of heart and consistently proves to be the stronger team when it matters most—in the fourth quarter. Looking ahead, the upcoming road game against Georgia Tech will likely be Duke’s toughest test so far this season. Despite that challenge, I’m sticking with my preseason prediction: Duke starts the season 6-0. And in typical "Coastal Chaos" fashion, Miami secured a controversial win over Virginia Tech, while Florida State, once seen as a playoff contender, continues to stumble—this time losing decisively to SMU, dropping to a dismal 1-4 record. As for my bowl projection, last week I had Duke heading north to the Pinstripe Bowl. But now, it’s time for a new prediction: I’m calling for an easy trip down south to Charlotte for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl—extra mayo on the cheeseburgers, please! However, if Duke puts up a strong performance against Georgia Tech and keeps stacking wins in ACC play, I might have to rethink my projection. A deeper run south could possibly be in the cards for my next bowl projection. Be sure to check back here at Blue Devils Blog every week for our latest bowl projections. With ACC play already started for Duke there’s plenty of potential for these projections to shift. We’ll keep you updated as the season unfolds! |
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