Quote Originally Posted by Reilly View Post
Duke bowl games

Margin of victory (+) or defeat (-) ... season ... bowl ... SRS rank Duke v SRS rank opponent

+29 ... 2018 ... Independence Bowl ... #42 Duke over #64 Temple
+27 ... 1954 ... Orange Bowl ... #21 Duke over #41 Nebraska
+22 ... 2017 ... Quick Lane Bowl ... #37 Duke over #65 NIU
+03 ... 2015 ... Pnstripe Bowl ... #57 Duke over #59 Indiana
+03 ... 1944 ... Sugar Bowl ... #19 Duke over #18 Alabama
+01 ... 1960 ... Cotton Bowl ... #32 Duke over #12 Arkansas
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-04 ... 1938 ... Rose Bowl ... #10 Duke lost to #5 Southern Cal
-04 ... 1941 ... Rose Bowl ... #8 Duke lost to #5 Oregon State
-04 ... 2013 ... Chik-fil-A Bowl ...#31 Duke lost to #19 TX A&M
-05 ... 2014 ... Sun Bowl ... #40 Duke lost to #16 Ariz State
-14 ... 2012 ... Belk Bowl ... #68 Duke lost to #31 Cincinnati
-14 ... 1994 ... HOF Bowl ... #27 Duke lost to #22 Wisconsin
-27 ... 1957 ... Orange Bowl ... #15 Duke lost to #2 Oklahoma
-28 ... 1989 ... All-American Bowl ... #36 Duke lost to #22 Texas Tech

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb...uke/bowls.html
Some of the team ratings for Duke's long-ago appearances in the highlighted bowls are pretty crazy. I realize it's only one rating system and there is some subjectivity, but it's crazy to see high-double-digit ratings for some of these. I assume the Big Eight might have already had its longstanding (and now long-ago) deal to send its champion to the Orange Bowl, and that could explain #41 (!!) Nebraska being in that contest. Ditto Alabama's Sugar Bowl appearance? But #32 (!!) Duke seems really, really fortunate to have gotten that Cotton Bowl invite.