Duke Blue Devils: Odds Against For Bowl Berth
The Duke Blue Devils needs this Thursday Night game and the two that follow to make the postseason.
The Duke Blue Devils football team is officially against the wall. They have to win every game that is left in this season if they want to have a postseason. That means defeating #17 in the College Football Rankings North Carolina, Miami, and Pitt in the next three weeks. It also means doing that without star defensive back DeVon Edwards and of course season-long injured quarterback Thomas Sirk.
So how do the Blue Devils find a way to upset the Tar Heels? The first thing that Duke needs to do is keep the Carolina offense off the field. Mitch Trubisky and his cohorts denied Georgia Tech by simply scoring and scoring again. Tech’s option offense could not bleed the clock like it wanted to courtesy of some turnovers and injuries.
Therefore it is up to Duke to control the ball and bleed the clock. Their advantage over Georgia Tech in doing this is having more answers for long third downs. However like the Yellow Jackets, the Blue Devils will be looking to stay on schedule. 2 and 5, third and short will be musts for the Duke offense. They have to test the improving Tar Heel defense with Jela Duncan on the inside and occasionally test the linebackers with Shaun Wilson on the outside.
More from Duke Blue Devils
- Court alleges Zion’s Stepfather received $400k
- Four North Carolina players selected in first round of MLB Draft
- N.C. State at Duke: Staff Predictions
- N.C. State makes strong case for NCAA Tourney berth with win over Duke
- Duke vs North Carolina Staff Predictions
The last piece to the puzzle will be quarterback Daniel Jones. Jones will need to convert the third downs that arise. Sometimes that will mean throwing the ball. Sometimes that will mean scrambling to extend drives. A plodding game will serve Duke more than a blowout will.
On defense the concern has to be Elijah Hood. Duke has made a trade-off of speed for size. If Hood gets among the Duke secondary, then he might simply run through them. He is just five days removed from his big day against the Yellow Jackets. Duke will need to keep Hood from the second level.
More from Old North Banter
- Carolina Panthers: Secondary battles to watch in training camp 2020
- Carolina Panthers: 2020 training camp kicks off on Tuesday
- NC Colleges Provide Coronavirus Results from Athletic Departments
- Court alleges Zion’s Stepfather received $400k
- UNC Football gets Commitment from Top Cornerback
Another part would have been special teams, but with Edwards out that x-factor is unlikely. Add to that watching over Ryan Switzer on the other side of the return game.
In short Duke has a challenge ahead of it trying to keep up with the Tar Heels. Yet it must be accomplished to sniff a bowl game. Turnovers would be welcome.