Call it a pipe dream, but after Duke’s 28-17 victory over Virginia earlier today, the Blue Devils now have a clear path to the ACC Championship Game.
True, said “clear” path is littered with Top-25 opponents Georgia Tech and Miami, not to mention a road test against rival North Carolina, but after Virginia Tech was upset by those same Tar Heels last Thursday, Duke now stands alone in second place in the ACC Coastal division with a 3-1 record. The Yellow Jackets are in first with a 5-1 record, but the Blue Devils will host Georgia Tech on November 14th in Wallace Wade Stadium. Thus, if Duke wins out it will, in fact, be the ACC Coastal Division Champion.
Yes, the odds are astronomical that Duke will be able to finish the season on a seven-game ACC winning streak, but for a team that last season won one ACC game, even the possibility of the Blue Devils being a player in the conference race must be uplifting to David Cutcliffe’s team and to a suffering Blue Devil fan base.
So, Blue Devil fans, where do you see the newly energized Duke football team finishing in the ACC this year?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Realistically, they probably are not going to beat all those teams. However, they can lose one and still go to the title game, I think. As long as they beat Tech on the 14th, I think they would win a tiebreaker for the Coastal title.
Rex,
Just to clarify, it would be possible for Duke to win the Coastal with another loss, although it would be very unlikely. Remember that Virginia Tech has two losses in the conference at this point, so the Blue Devils would lose the tiebreaker to them. Additionally, If the Blue Devils lost to Miami, another team with two loses, they would lose that tiebreaker as well. So yes, if Miami or Virginia Tech were upset again one loss would not rule out a Coastal title, but the likelihood of either scenario occurring is admittedly slim.
It was great to see the win in Scott Stadium this weekend. Many may know, we have not won up there in years. I hope we have a few more “fans” who might be willing to jump back on the band wagon. If we play our game, we can win in Chapel Hill Saturday. Miami is struggling a little and can be beat. I hope more will come out for the GA Tech game on the 14th!
Time for the Cameron Crazies to move over to the football stadium. Georgia Tech has got to be coached by the dirtiest coach in college football – deliberate illegal substitutions against Clemson, numerous illegal and dangerous blocks against Virginia Tech, and three chop block penalties against Wake. The fans need to remind the GT coach that there is no place for such behavior in college sport. The GT coach could probably be a great crew chief in NASCAR where it is not cheating unless you get caught.