FB: Wake Forest 45, Duke 7

[jimsumner]

For those of you who don't read the front page.

https://www.dukebasketballreport.com...e-football-acc

[Bob Green]

Thanks, Jim. Alongside the fundamentals, Cut needs to look at the Xs and Os; Jimmys and Joes. What I saw watching last week was a breakdown of both scheme and personnel. And not just the players, the whole staff needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror.

[arnie]

Thanks, Jim. Alongside the fundamentals, Cut needs to look at the Xs and Os; Jimmys and Joes. What I saw watching last week was a breakdown of both scheme and personnel. And not just the players, the whole staff needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror.

FWIW, 16.5 pt dogs against the Deacs.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

FWIW, 16.5 pt dogs against the Deacs.

Easy money!

[Acymetric]

Easy money!

No!

[Bob Green]

Gunnar Holmberg and Josh Blackwell meet with the media:

https://www.dukebasketballreport.com...-demon-deacons

[CameronBlue]

Easy money!

I'll take that wager--Duke to cover--and walk away laughing.

[Acymetric]

Well I guess we impressed somebody with our performance against Bye this past weekend, up to 106 (from 110) in Sagarin and 90 (from 95) in F+. Movin' on up!

[budwom]

Well I guess we impressed somebody with our performance against Bye this past weekend, up to 106 (from 110) in Sagarin and 90 (from 95) in F+. Movin' on up!

there's only one direction to go at this point. Glad the game coincides with cocktail hour.

[AGDukesky]

FWIW, 16.5 pt dogs against the Deacs.

Are they doing halftime lines now?

[CameronBornAndBred]

Well I guess we impressed somebody with our performance against Bye this past weekend, up to 106 (from 110) in Sagarin and 90 (from 95) in F+. Movin' on up!

Not losing always helps!

[Phredd3]

Well I guess we impressed somebody with our performance against Bye this past weekend, up to 106 (from 110) in Sagarin and 90 (from 95) in F+. Movin' on up!

F+. I know we're bad, but I thought we were doing a little better than that. I think maybe maybe just a straight D.

[cspan37421]

Are they doing halftime lines now?

This can definitely be interpreted a couple ways, both of which make perfect sense.

[Acymetric]

F+. I know we're bad, but I thought we were doing a little better than that. I think maybe maybe just a straight D.

The G we got against UVA really brought down the average.

[Bluedog]

F+. I know we're bad, but I thought we were doing a little better than that. I think maybe maybe just a straight D.

An F+ would be pretty funny - it's "failing" but ALMOST not failing? Bahahaha. I don't think such a grade exists anywhere. (I recognize you didn't come up with it.)

[Dr. Maturin]

I'm not saying Duke will win, or even cover the spread in this game. But don't be surprised if this one is close. For one, despite Wake's record, the numbers suggest that they are merely "pretty good." The AP poll has Wake at #13, but they're just 37th in SP+ and 35th in FPI (Duke is 85th and 96th). Moreover, Duke and Wake generally recruit the same level of athletes. This has led to some competitive games even when one team has been much better than the other.

In 2006, Wake had their best team in a generation, winning 11 games and the ACC title. They played a Duke team that went 0-12. Duke missed a chip shot field goal that would have won it, and Wake won 14-13. (Side note: this was also Thad's first game as a starter).

In 2013, Duke had its best team in a generation, winning 10 games and the Coastal title. Wake was limping to a 4-8 record in Grobe's last year (quite similar to Duke this season). Wake jumped out to a 14-0 lead (side note: I'm still mad that the officials failed to overturn a fumble recovery TD for Wake, as Isaac Blakeney was clearly down), and Duke had to come back to win 28-21.

Wake is a solid team and they have a chance at a historic season for their program. That said, they've also a bit lucky to be 7-0 given some poor defensive performances and some close wins. Their defense will bite them eventually, and if they keep playing close games, they'll eventually lose one. It probably won't happen Saturday. But it might.

[budwom]

^ some very good points, but I'll say right now that I WILL be very surprised if this one is close. Our very predictable offense is a good match for Wake's defense (just as it was for UVA's defense).

[Acymetric]

^Yes, agreed, I think it is possible that we could win any of our remaining games including this one (just as it was possible for us to win all the previous ones), but this Wake team looks like our kryptonite making a living off of big explosive/chunk plays.

[budwom]

^Yes, agreed, I think it is possible that we could win any of our remaining games including this one (just as it was possible for us to win all the previous ones), but this Wake team looks like our kryptonite making a living off of big explosive/chunk plays.

I'm pretty sure Pitt is outside our victory range as well...

[Acymetric]

I'm pretty sure Pitt is outside our victory range as well...

Wake and Pitt are both significantly better than us, but I don't see either as unbeatable per se (although I'm virtually certain we will in fact lose both, please don't take these posts as a sign of optimism).