Duke Blue Devils 2023 College Football Preview
July 9, 2023
2022 Recap
Record – 9-4
ATS – 10-3
Yes, guy.
The Blue Devils had a great first season under new HC Mike Elko and tallied nine wins for the first time since 2014. They got off to a hot start (3-0) and finished well winning four of their final five regular season games. The cherry got put on top of the cake in bowl season when the Dukies throttled UCF by a score of 30-13 in the Military Bowl. That was a 66,000 star MEGALOCKS EARLY PHONE RELEASE BOWL BLASTER POWER LOCK winner.
Can Duke take the next step and contend for an ACC title game berth in 2023?
Duke Blue Devils 2023 Outlook
OFFENSE
Duke was balanced and efficient on offense LY (#3 ACC rushing, #8 passing) and they averaged 30 PPG for the first time since 2015 (32.8, #5). The Blue Devils have one of the best QBs in the ACC in Riley Leonard and he’s coming off a wonderful 2022 campaign in which he posted a 20-6 TD to INT ratio whilst leading the team in rushing (699, 13 TD). The skill positions are in the best shape of almost any team in the nation in terms of returning production as they retain their top-three RBs (1,554 combined rushing yards, 17 TD) and basically everyone that caught a pass in 2022. Jalon Calhoun is a legit #1 weapon (62, 873, 4 TD LY) amongst a deep WR corps and don’t sleep on TE Nicky Dalmolin who must be accounted for in the red zone (4 TD LY). Four upperclassmen starters return on the offensive line including 1st Team ACC honoree LT Graham Barton. Yup, these guys will SCORE the FOOTBALL.
DEFENSE
Duke made an unbelievable improvement on defense LY as they allowed a mere 22.1 PPG (#5 ACC) after allowing a ridiculous 39.8 PPG in 2021 (#127 FBS). Duke retains eight defensive starters but will be working with a new DC and without last season’s top-two tacklers including All-Universe LB Shaka Heyward. The LB unit looks sketchy compared to LY but they’ll be stout up front given the return of all four (!) starters including star DT DeWayne Carter (5.5 sacks, 11 TFL, 6 QBH LY). The secondary looks decent but we don’t think it has any “star power”. HC Mike Elko knows a thing or two about defense but we project a small step back in overall performance this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The great PHIL STEELE sums it up best. They’ve ranked in the top-40 on special teams four years in a row and they’ve got everyone coming back other than their long snapper. Recall that PR Sahmir Hagans took one 81 yards to the CRIBBY JIZZY last season and KR Jaylen Stinson averaged 25.3 yards on 15 KR.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – WHOA, NELLIE. Things get HOT and HEAVY early as they have a home date with Clemson in the season opener. Their only worrisome game in non-conference play is Notre Dame (H) but they draw all three of the conference BIG ‘UNS (Clemson, UNC, Florida St).
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Virginia (Nov 18)
This will be their 4th road game in five weeks and be aware that Duke has lost five straight games at Virginia. (SU and ATS). Not saying, just saying.
Season Win Total
Market consensus July 8
Over 6 -130
Under 6 +100
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
No, seriously. They’re good enough to win six or seven games.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Duke is on a four-game bowl winning streak.
The Duke Lemur Center is an 85-acre sanctuary for LEMURS and is the home to the largest colony of lemurs outside of Madagascar. These wet-nosed primates have been subjected to several experiments in recent years and it’s been determined that they’re more intelligent (by far) than every single member of the Canadian Parliament. **
** fact check: You betcha. Also, lemurs don’t get five months of vacation.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
Riley Leonard MAN CRUSH may be in effect. The Blue Devils have somehow gotten their paws on a star QB and he’s surrounded with a lot of dangerous weaponry. The defense looks average to us but you know they’ll be well-coached and scrappy. The schedule limits their upside but we’ll call for another winning record and a trip to bowl season.