Computers would favor UCF by 4-7 points. Sagarin = +4 and Massey = +7.
Duke tailgate party: https://rsvp.duke.edu/event/896a5d8b...8b2467/summary
Duke and UCF seasons. Ordered by margin of victory/defeat. # = SRS rank of opponent
Duke (#43)
+30 Temple (#105)
+29 NCAT
+24 @Miami (#86)
+21 UVA (#98)
+17 VaTech (#102)
+08 @NU (#107)
+07 @BC (#95)
+03 WFU (#29)
-----------------
-02 @Pitt (#39)
-03 UNC (#49)
-03 @GT (#88)
-08 @KU (#31)
UCF (#40)
+57 Temple (#105)
+46 SCSt
+26 @FAU (#99)
+22 SMU (#51)
+17 GT (#88)
+07 @Tulane (#17)
+07 @Memphis (#58)
+07 @SoFL (#116)
+04 Cincy (#36)
------------------
-03 Navy (#79)
-06 Lville (#25)
-17 @Tulane (#17)
-21 @ECU (#59)
10 bowls feature a matchup with more combined wins than Duke/UCF.
2 tied.
28 lesser.
25: Mich/TCU
24: UGA/tOSU
23:
22: Troy/UTSA; USC/Tulane
21: Tenn/Clemson
20: Alabama/KSt; PennSt/Utah
19:
18: SoAla/WKY; Oregon/UNC; Washington/Texas
17: UCF/Duke; Pitt/UCLA; LSU/Purdue
16: Cincy/Lville; Fresno/WashSt; Boise/NTX; Toledo/Liberty; ECU/Coastal; ND/SoCar; Illini/MissSt
15: UF/OrSt; SanJose/EMU; AF/Baylor; TxTch/Ole Miss; Minn/Syr; FSU/Okla; NCSU/MD; Ohio/Wyo
14: BYU/SMU; UConn/Marshall; SDSU/MTSU; Ky/Iowa
13: UAB/MiaOH; Houston/LA; Wake/Mizzou; OkSt/Wisc
12: BG/NMexSt; GaSo/Buffalo; UtSt/Memphis; KS/Ark
11: SoMiss/Rice
I don’t want to hear about ANY “opt outs” for the bowl game. (So far, no word on any Duke opt outs or transfers). Unless you are injured, if you played in the regular season, play in the darn bowl game. I hate hearing about players (from any school) opting out of bowl games. I don’t buy the argument that they are trying to prevent injuries.. they played a full season already.
Duke bowl rated 14th best: https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-the...002320358.html
Sporked you for the link, but just wanted to add...
Top half!
Again, while Duke might be in a "lesser bowl", I'm way happy, and I didn't expect to be. UCF is gooood. I expect this game to be way close, and not decided til the 4th. OT would not shock me.
Been literally forever since we rooted against anyone named Plumlee.
Q "Why do you like Duke, you didn't even go there." A "Because my art school didn't have a basketball team."
I understand your perspective, but players at much higher profile programs than Duke have opted out of much bigger bowl games.
I don't like it either, but it's part of the new college sports world order, with transfer portals, NIL, etc.
If you recall, we had a basketball player who "opted out" of more than a bowl game fairly recently.
I’d understand if a player were transferring, or left the team or got kicked off, but I just don’t get playing the entire season and then not playing in the bowl game…
In basketball, it would be like a player playing the entire season, and conference tournament, then “opting out” of the NCAA Tournament. It just doesn’t happen in hoops like it does in football.
(Speaking of football transfers, I haven’t heard of any for us so far, but our rivals to the west are bleeding players!)
Didn't Ben Simmons do that?
Anyway, I'm not defending it in any way, just asking you to not be surprised when it happens more and more.
And really, the Duke basketball player who left two months in is possibly worse? Is it better to leave your band of brothers with one game remaining? Or as you move into the meat of the season?
Regardless, all these trends are things I see as "fine" - individuals have no legal obligation that I'm aware of - but leaving me less and less interested in sports in general. Which is a "me" problem, not a sports problem.
That player who left Duke is not even in the brotherhood IMO.
And I’m not surprised at all when players on any team opt out of bowl game, playoffs, etc…. Just disappointed as a fan…. And I’m sure the player’s teammates are more disappointed than any fans would be.
Does anyone know what Annapolis hotel will be the "Duke hotel"??? TIA!
-Son of Jarhead
The Duke fan formerly known as BuschDevil
Had they not lost their conference championship game, UCF would likely be ranked in the top 20. As it is, they lost to Tulane and fell out from 23rd, but they are still up there in the votes. Duke will be playing the "28th" ranked team.
Q "Why do you like Duke, you didn't even go there." A "Because my art school didn't have a basketball team."
From ESPN's crystal ball.
https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...ore-every-gameFirst-year Duke coach Mike Elko took a team that went 3-9 (0-8 in ACC play) last season and guided it to a bowl for the first time since 2018. Both teams are solid on defense, and while UCF has an edge offensively with athletic quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, if healthy, Duke should be much more motivated to play. The Elko-Gus Malzahn coaching matchup should be fun, but Duke rallies in the fourth quarter behind dual-threat QB Riley Leonard.
Prediction: Duke 36, UCF 33
Q "Why do you like Duke, you didn't even go there." A "Because my art school didn't have a basketball team."