2008 Duke College Football Predictions

The Blue Devils have lost 25 straight ACC games and haven't beaten a Football Bowl Subdivision team at home in five years. Both of these droughts should end thanks to a favorable schedule, but the Devils still figure to live in the basement of the ACC. Jimmy Boyd provides his take on the upcoming season in his 2008 Duke Blue Devils predictions and season preview.
 

Bet on Football Using Your Credit Card

Offense

First year head coach David Cutcliffe's reputation is that of an offensive genius and he will have some decent weapons to work with in year one. Junior QB Thaddeus Lewis is on pace to throw for more than 9,000 yards and 60 touchdowns in his career, but he's also on pace for more than 50 interceptions and gets sacked far too often. Cutcliffe likes Lewis' arm but needs him to be more accurate. Eron Riley will be Lewis' top target. The big play threat led the ACC with a 20.8 yards per catch average and ranked second in the league with nine touchdown receptions. Mounting a better running attack will be high on Cutcliffe's list as the Devils ranked 117th in nation at just 64 yards per game. Re'quan Boyette and Tony Jackson will be getting the bulk of the carries. Many of Lewis' sacks and the lack of rushing attack can be attributed to terrible line play. And it's not that these guys play badly, it's just that they are coming up against far superior athletes.

Defense

An inexperienced defense gave up 33 points per game last season but improvement in expected with 10 returning starters. Cutcliffe was pleased with what he saw in the spring. The linebacker corps is led by a pair of tackling machines: Michael Tauiliili and Vincent Rey. Tauiliili led Duke in tackles his freshman and sophomore seasons before finishing three behind Rey for the team lead in 2007. The two both get help from Vince Oghobaase clogging holes up front. Cutcliffe is concerned about Duke's depth in the secondary and he should be. He's hoping to get solid play from incoming freshman safety Matt Daniels to help out this weak unit. The best moves made on the defense during the offseason were the hires of Mike MacIntyre from the NY Jets and Marion Hobby from the New Orleans Saints. Both coached with Cutcliffe at Ole Miss and they should both help shape this defense into a competitive unit if they can land the players.

Special Teams

Cutcliffe called Duke's special teams units "atrocious" in the spring. They will be among his main focuses this season. Cutcliffe will have to hope that incoming freshman Paul Asack will come on quickly at place kicker or he'll have to settle for returners Joe Surgan and Nick Maggio who combined to go 3-for-10 last season.

Prediction – 6th ACC Coastal

Duke should do better than 1-11 this season, but not much better. But Cutcliffe has already put this team in a better position to win. Duke hasn't been to a bowl game since 1994, but I think Cutcliffe will be the one to take them there a few more years down the road.

World Champion handicapper Jimmy Boyd's NCAA football picks make college football betting a cinch. It takes hard work and a lot of time to pick winners at a consistent winning rate. If you don't have that kind of time on your hands, let Jimmy Boyd put in the work for you. Your pocketbook will reap the rewards.

July 7th, 2008