From Wallace Wade to Wherever: Duke's Bowl Watch - Week 3

We’re back with Week 3 bowl projections from Brian Kennedy of Duke Football Talk and myself, Freddie Hodges of Duke Report.

Freddie Hodges – Duke Report

Duke took its first loss of the season last Saturday against Illinois, and let’s be honest—it was turnover city in Durham. The Blue Devils handed the ball over too many times, and a competitive Illinois squad took full advantage. The 45–19 final looks lopsided, but the game stayed close until the fourth quarter before it slipped away.

This one stings for Duke fans, no doubt. An upset of the No. 11 Illini would’ve been a statement win, but instead Duke is left wondering what could have been.

Around the ACC, things are already looking crowded at the top. SMU dropped a game to Baylor, Clemson got a win but still doesn’t look like a playoff team, and Florida State hung a basketball score on East Texas A&M—77–3. With wins from Miami, Georgia Tech, Louisville, NC State, and others, the picture right now might point to a possible scenario: the ACC may end up with just one playoff team and a traffic jam of contenders fighting for those top-tier bowl slots. Still... it's only Week 3. 

​Back in August, I penciled in a Duke loss to Illinois in my preseason game-by-game projections. Last week, I switched it up and called for the upset in my weekly score prediction. Duke didn’t deliver, but the good news is my bowl projection stays steady: I’ve still got the Blue Devils headed to Charlotte for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. That’s three straight weeks of sticking with the Mayo.

Next up is Tulane, and that one has some extra juice. Duke quarterback Darian Mensah makes his return to New Orleans to face his former team, and you can bet both fan bases have had this one circled. It’s another high-stakes test for the Blue Devils, and depending on how it plays out, it could be the week that finally shakes up my bowl projection.

Time will tell.

Brian Kennedy - Duke Football Talk

Well Duke fans, the outcome of the Illinois game was NOT what anyone had hoped. What made things worse, was that Duke was in control of their own destiny before self-inflicted mistakes took away their chances of going 2-0. And don't get me wrong, Illinois is a decent team, and did their part to make sure they left Durham with a win.

There were still some bright notes coming out of this game. Andrel Anthony has arrived, and showed that he still has plenty in the tank. VJ Anthony has shined the first 2 weeks of the season and had 3 sacks against Illinois.

With that being said, another test awaits the Blue Devils this weekend in Tulane. The Green Wave are 2-0, and looking to exact a type of revenge on Darian Mensah for coming to Durham. Tulane has wins against Northwestern and South Alabama, and is bringing in the 18th best offense in the country to the game.

A win for Duke, and things get back on track. A loss? Questions will most certainly start being asked. But enough about game analysis, we are here to give bowl projections. This loss did affect where I have Duke. Had the Blue Devils, I would have flirted with having them on the border of the CFP. With the loss however, I am having to knock Duke down a peg. The first 2 weeks I had Duke in Orlando for the Pop Tarts Bowl. This week, I am moving the Blue Devils back up north and playing in Charlotte for the Duke's Mayo Bowl.

Here's to things getting back on track this week....GO DUKE!"

​Stay tuned — Brian and I will be updating projections every week right here at Blue Devils Blog. See you at Wallace Wade.