The most intimidating and consequential matchup on the Duke football schedule has arrived.
The Duke Blue Devils, fresh off a heartbreaking overtime loss to the SMU Mustangs, hit the road for a Saturday afternoon game against the Miami Hurricanes. Head coach Manny Diaz came within a blocked kick on the final play of regulation from seven wins over his first eight games with the Blue Devils, and now he gets a chance at revenge against the program that fired him three years ago (although Diaz downplayed the idea of any remaining resentment during his Monday press conference).
While Duke’s defense leads the ACC in passing yards allowed, there hasn’t been a challenge like Miami yet because there isn’t a challenge like the Hurricanes to be found. Quarterback Cam Ward, a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, has thrown for 343.3 yards per game this season with 24 passing touchdowns, 3 rushing touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Do the Blue Devils have what it takes to slow down the superstar on his home turf? Here’s what our staff thinks.
Ryan Haley, Duke Wire staff editor
There’s clearly a path to getting ahead of schedule against the Hurricanes. Virginia Tech led the Hurricanes by 10 points with nine minutes to play. The California Golden Bears built a 35-10 lead deep into the second half. While Ward and his offense have crawled out of each hole, teams can only play with fire for so long.
However, the Hokies and Golden Bears are averaging 377.0 and 399.6 yards of offense against FBS opponents, respectively. The Blue Devils have only managed 334.0. Wide receiver Jordan Moore looks progressively healthier every week and the passing offense will get a major shot in the arm when he’s at full throttle, but we’re less than two weeks removed from Maalik Murphy throwing for 70 yards on 24 attempts against the Florida State Seminoles.
The Hurricanes, surprisingly, are second in the conference in yards allowed per pass attempt. While the optics of nearly beating SMU in regulation look great, six turnovers in a single game are a staggering and unrepeatable number even against Ward, who can occasionally struggle with ball security. I don’t think 21 points in regulation, even with two missed field goals, fully sold me on the problems being fixed.
Miami 38, Duke 17
Bryant Crews, Staff Writer
Duke fumbled an incredible opportunity last weekend to check even more boxes on an otherwise excellent season. The loss to SMU probably killed any fleeting hopes of making it to the ACC Championship game, and it also cost them a likely addition to the US LBM Coaches Poll.
Duke played outstanding defense (yet again) and forced SMU to make some big mistakes. Couple that with SMU’s blunders, and Duke had six turnovers and didn’t score on any of them. Before we proceed with the rest of this prediction, Jonathan Brewer’s job should be in question come December.
Duke will have to turn the page, prepare to make a trip to Miami, and take on a top-10 Miami team that looks destined for an ACC Championship game behind potential Heisman winner Cam Ward’s arm. He’s been surgical all season long, and he’s far and away the best quarterback Duke will see this year.
The Hurricanes have some terrific skill position talent, and their defense has multiple guys who will be playing on Sunday next year and in the future. It’s the best Miami team in quite some time, and Duke will not have the horses to win. The defense will be enough to give Miami fits for a half, but Duke’s lack of punch offensively will doom them in the second half.
Miami 34, Duke 16
Josiah Caswell, Staff Writer
This weekend, Duke will face the toughest team they’ve faced all year and the toughest they’ll face for the entire season as a whole. Miami has been a force this year, holding one of the best offenses in the nation led by Cam Ward.
The Blue Devils’ secondary and defense as a whole will need to play their best football. Simply put, Chandler Rivers and company will have their hands full.
The thing is, the Canes’ defense isn’t unstoppable. Whether it be through the air or on the ground, Miami’s defense has been susceptible to big plays. If Duke wants to win, they’ll need to avoid the Canes’ strong pass rush and string together big plays. If they can do it, it could be a four-quarter fight. If not? It could get ugly.
Miami 41, Duke 20
