From Wallace Wade to Wherever: Duke's Bowl Watch - Week 5

We’re back with Week 5 bowl projections from Brian Kennedy of Duke Football Talk and myself, Freddie Hodges of Duke Report.

Freddie Hodges – Duke Report

Duke got back in the win column this past Saturday at Wallace Wade, taking down NC State 45–33.

This one was a roller coaster. The Blue Devils trailed 20–7 before exploding for three touchdowns in just 3:50 of game time, spanning the end of the second quarter and the start of the third. It wasn’t always pretty, but a win is a win—and now Duke sits at 2–2, turning the page with some much-needed momentum.

Next up: a road trip to New York to face Syracuse in a noon kickoff. The Orange will be without starting QB Steve Angeli, but the Dome will still be rocking. Syracuse has sold out the JMA Wireless Dome, and FanDuel currently has Duke as a 5.5-point favorite. If the Blue Devils want to keep the good vibes rolling, they’ll need to bring their A-game against a fired-up home crowd.

Around the ACC, Clemson took another hit—this time falling to Syracuse. A team many (myself included) penciled into the playoff or even the title game now looks far from that level. Meanwhile, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Miami, and Florida State stayed unbeaten, and Cal and the Calgorithm finally came back to earth after a hot 3–0 start.
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As for my bowl projection… call me stubborn, but for the fifth straight week I’m sticking with the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Until Duke strings together a few more wins, I’m holding steady like an investor who never sells. If the Blue Devils keep building, I may finally move them up in my projections—but for now, all eyes are on Syracuse.

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​Brian Kennedy - Duke Football Talk

Well Duke fans, I step away for a week—and the team gets back on track. Should I just stay on a cruise ship until the season ends? No seriously, I wouldn't mind that at all.

All jokes aside, what a performance by Duke against NC State. While the start was far from perfect getting down 20-7 early, the team made the necessary adjustments and delivered when it mattered most. Offense, defense, and special teams all stepped up and executed across the board. With their win, it is the first time since 1983-1985 that Duke has won 3 straight against the Wolfpack.

This week, Duke hits the road for the first time since Tulane, facing a Syracuse squad that’s missing a key weapon in quarterback Steve Angeli. Even with that in mind, Duke should be able to notch their second straight win and remain undefeated in ACC play.

As for my bowl projection—I'm still keeping Duke in Charlotte for now in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. The ACC standings are shifting constantly, with teams moving up and down like weights on a rack. Miami and Florida State are clearly leading the pack, with Georgia Tech and Louisville not far behind. After that however, things are up for grabs, and the coming weeks could help clear things up.

If Duke can string together wins against Syracuse and Cal next week, I might just have to move the bus to a new destination. Here's to another win in New York this weekend and GO DUKE!

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