From Wallace Wade to Wherever: Duke's Bowl Watch - Week 6

We’re back with Week 6 bowl projections from Brian Kennedy of Duke Football Talk and myself, Freddie Hodges of Duke Report.

​Freddie Hodges – Duke Report

Duke picked up a statement road win this past Saturday, knocking off Syracuse 38–3 in front of a sold-out JMA Wireless Dome. The Orange had just come off a convincing win at Clemson, but the Blue Devils never blinked. Nate Sheppard powered the offense with 168 yards on the ground, while the defense locked down Syracuse from start to finish. It was the kind of balanced, complete performance Duke fans have been waiting for—even after early setbacks against Tulane and Illinois, this team feels like it’s waking up. And at 2–0 in ACC play, things are definitely trending upward.

Now comes the cross-country trip to face Cal in a late-night “ACC After Dark” showdown. East Coast fans, kickoff is at 10:30 PM—so stock up on caffeine. The Golden Bears are 4–1, led by freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who’s already topped 1,200 passing yards and 8 touchdowns in just five games. His poise and big-play flair have made him one of the nation’s most exciting young QBs. On the other side, Duke’s Darian Mensah is putting together a breakout season of his own with 1,573 yards and 13 touchdowns, giving the Blue Devils plenty of firepower. With both offenses capable of lighting up the scoreboard, this matchup has all the makings of a shootout. FanDuel lists Duke as a narrow 2.5-point favorite with the over/under set at 56.5.

Around the ACC: Even though the Coastal Division is gone, “Coastal Chaos” is alive and well. Virginia stunned Florida State on Friday night to move to 4–1, Louisville took care of Pitt in a close one, Georgia Tech survived Wake Forest in overtime, and NC State stumbled against a Virginia Tech team still trying to find its footing after a midseason coaching change.

My Bowl Projection: Call me stubborn, but for the sixth straight week—and since the start of the season—I’m sticking with the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Think of me like the guy who bought Apple stock years ago and refuses to sell (lol)—I’m holding steady. But here’s the deal: if Duke beats Cal on Saturday night (well, early Sunday morning), I promise I’ll finally change my projection. Stay tuned, because this team looks ready to make a statement.
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​Now let’s get the win. Go Duke!

​Brian Kennedy - Duke Football Talk

Duke fans, it would appear that things are back on track. This past Saturday's game was the performance we have been waiting all season for as Duke handled Syracuse 38-3. The offense was clicking, the defense was winning in the trenches, and special teams performed when needed. With the win, Duke is now 2-0 in ACC play, and hitting all marks when it matters most.

Duke is heading out west to play a Cal team who is on the verge of having their best start in 10 years. Some would say it is due to the opponents they have faced, but wins are all that matters at the end of the day. If Duke can get the job done after hours in Berkeley, things could get very interesting heading into the Georgia Tech game.

Speaking of Tech, they are currently tied for first in the ACC with Virginia and Duke. This is exactly what everyone predicted would happen pre-season, right....RIGHT?!?!?

All jokes aside, the ACC still appears to be wide open. That could change after this weekend with Virginia playing Louisville, and Miami playing FSU. More than likely we will get answers instead of questions, but with this being the year of Atlantic Coastal Chaos, who knows.

​As far as my bowl predictions, I am making a change. I am moving Duke but not for the reason you might think. While Duke did win, and move to 3-2 on the season, I am moving them out of Charlotte because of a certain team in South Carolina who has stumbled some. In the grand scheme of things, if it came down to say an 8-4 Duke team and an 8-4 Clemson team, the Tigers would most definitely be selected. Because of this factor, I am moving Duke to the land of Cameron North and the Pinstripe Bowl. 

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