It’s a testament to David Cutcliffe that we are now surprised when the Duke Blue Devils don’t make it to a bowl game. What Cutcliffe has been able to do in Durham is incredible. Duke had made it to a bowl game just eight times prior to his arrival, and now the school has gone bowling in five of its last six seasons. The oddsmakers have them favored to make it to another bowl game again in 2018.
Duke 2018 regular season win total
Over 6 (-130)
Under 6 (+100)
Odds courtesy of BetDSI Sportsbook
What Happened Last Year
The 2017 campaign was a roller coaster of a season for Duke. The Blue Devils started off the season with four straight wins, including a big win on the road against North Carolina. However, a loss to Miami started a snowball that saw the program lose six in a row. All chances of getting to a bowl appeared shot after a loss to Army, but then the Blue Devils’ offense turned it on.
Duke’s offense had been moribund for the previous six games, but averaged 36.7 PPG over their last three to lead the Blue Devils to three straight wins. Quarterback Daniel Jones was brilliant in that stretch, despite a three-interception performance against Wake Forest.
What Will Change This Year
The way Jones ended last season gives the Blue Devils confidence entering 2018. He looked like he had regressed after an impressive freshman campaign in 2016, but it all seemed to come together at the tail end of the year. Jones is an underrated runner that can make things happen with his legs when the play breaks down. Don’t be surprised if Cutcliffe uses that more in 2018 with an offensive line that is somewhat unproven.
Duke is one of the few teams in the ACC with a solid option at kicker. Austin Parker was 17-21 on field goals last year, and he was one of the better punters in the conference too. He was kicked off the team in December, but Parker was welcomed back into the fold two weeks ago. That will shore up the position.
The front six should improve with five of six starters returning to a unit that ranked in the middle of the pack in the conference last season. However, there are major concerns in the secondary. Duke’s 2017 secondary was one of the best in program history, but Mark Gilbert is the unit’s only returning starter. He was a first-team All-ACC cornerback last season, and he will likely be placed on an island for much of this year.
Outlook & Prediction
Duke has a pretty tough schedule in 2018. The Blue Devils may not win a game until the end of September. Duke opens at home against Army and follows that up with road games against Northwestern and Baylor.
The conference slate for the Blue Devils isn’t much easier. They must travel to Miami, Clemson, and Georgia Tech, and they will likely be sizable underdogs in the first two games. Duke is going to have a hard time reaching bowl eligibility in 2018.
