The ACC's first bowl team, Duke, takes the field today to take on Cincinnati out of the Big East in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. Kickoff is at 6:30 and it is being televised on ESPN.
The Blue Devils are 6-6 this year and just barely got bowl eligble for the first time since 1994. They lost their last four games of the season but got bowl eligible with a thrilling, 33-30 win over rival North Carolina on Oct. 20.
The Bearcats are 9-3 and were undefeated at 5-0 until a 29-23 setback to Toledo in October. They went 4-3 over their last seven games. Cincy's year included a 27-24 victory over Virginia Tech at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.
Duke was up 20-0 on Tech at Lane Stadium but the Hokies ran off 41 straight points to win in a blowout.
I like the year Duke has had, but I don't think it will be able to stop Cincinnati enough to win this game. The defense hasn't really been there for the Blue Devils this year. They are 104th in the country in points allowed per game. Cincinnati scored 31 points per game.
One advantage Duke does have that could probably make this game a little closer is that Butch Jones, the head coach who got Cincy to where it is, won't coach in the game as he took the job at Tennessee. Former Auburn and Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville will coach Cincinnati next season.
Still, I like Cincinnati, in a tight, offensive-minded battle, 35-31.
The Blue Devils are 6-6 this year and just barely got bowl eligble for the first time since 1994. They lost their last four games of the season but got bowl eligible with a thrilling, 33-30 win over rival North Carolina on Oct. 20.
The Bearcats are 9-3 and were undefeated at 5-0 until a 29-23 setback to Toledo in October. They went 4-3 over their last seven games. Cincy's year included a 27-24 victory over Virginia Tech at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.
Duke was up 20-0 on Tech at Lane Stadium but the Hokies ran off 41 straight points to win in a blowout.
I like the year Duke has had, but I don't think it will be able to stop Cincinnati enough to win this game. The defense hasn't really been there for the Blue Devils this year. They are 104th in the country in points allowed per game. Cincinnati scored 31 points per game.
One advantage Duke does have that could probably make this game a little closer is that Butch Jones, the head coach who got Cincy to where it is, won't coach in the game as he took the job at Tennessee. Former Auburn and Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville will coach Cincinnati next season.
Still, I like Cincinnati, in a tight, offensive-minded battle, 35-31.
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