 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!
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