Duke Preview

If we want to be bowl eligible, we probably need to win this one.  We are about 20-30%, according to the computers, to beat each of UNC and VT.  And about 40% vs UGA.  We are supposed to beat Virginia (75 or so %), but if we lose to Duke, we'd need to win 2 of those games.  With UVA not being guaranteed, and being an underdog in the rest, winning two would be seriously in jeopardy.  But if we beat Duke, we'd be a near certainty to win 1 of the remaining 4.

Now, being bowl eligible isn't all that much to get excited about, I understand.  But after a 3-9 season, its not a bad way to be.  I'd prefer us to win out.  Because 5-3 in the ACC Coastal could well win it (obviously as a tiebreaker of some sort).  I've seen this movie before.  I'll believe somebody emerges from this morass at 6-2 when I see it (even though VT has a relatively easy schedule left and only 1 loss).  The Coastal is chaos, per usual.  If we win out, 5-3 has a shot.  But that's a big if.

First up is Duke.  Losing two in a row to Duke is tough, even if they are better than old Duke.  I really don't want to lose 3 in a row.  They aren't very good at all on offense (around 100th best nationally in per possession stats).  Unfortunately, that's about as bad as our defense is.  Our offense is top 20 though, which is better than their defense rating, which is around the 40 range.  So we are (allegedly) slightly better overall, and we are at home.  This game could look a lot like the Vanderbilt game, given that Duke has a similar profile (credible defense, woeful offense).  If your offense is not good enough to move the ball against us, you are in trouble.  Defensively, Duke has been stingy against us both of the last two years (yes, even against our 2014 offense, which was close to unstoppable for most teams).  They are well coached.  But they aren't all that talented.  That is a similar profile to Vanderbilt, honestly.

Offensively they don't offer much to scare anybody.  This is one of Cutcliffe's worst offenses.  But our defense, on the wrong day, can make anybody look good.  Here's to hoping that doesn't happen.  I am thinking we win, something like 31-24.  But it probably won't be easy.

As always, Go Jackets!