Duke Looks To Avoid the Richmond Spiders' Web in Week One

At long last college football season is here.

Along with the tailgaters, cheerleaders, and linebackers week one of college football means the "experts" come out and make predictions about their assigned conference or team.

Most experts are predicting Duke to win week one versus Richmond and why shouldn't they?

Duke is an FBS school and Richmond is a FCS school. Duke plays in the Atlantic Coast Conference, not normally something to fear but in this case they are going against a team from the CAA, so shouldn't scare any FBS school right?

Wrong.

Richmond is a dangerous team who if Duke has learned anything from Coach David Cutcliff, will not overlook. If they do they will get caught up in the trap that has burned many a Division I team when it came with their seeningly lesser opponents.

Just ask Michigan a team predicted at the time to be much better than this year's Duke team. When they went down to Appalachian State a couple years back that served notice to all teams that you can't take anyone lightly.

The Spiders come to Durham touting their national championship from last year and a history of coming into Wallace Wade Stadium and handing Duke a loss as they did in 2006.

They are experienced and know they can compete with teams on a higher level.

Duke is just beginning to experience what it is like to compete and win so this game will be a good test for the Blue Devils.

If Duke's defense can avoid giving up the big play Duke should win this game. The Devil's offense is much better under Cutcliff than it was three years ago under Ted Roof and should put up some points.

If the offensive line can keep the Spider defense out of the backfield and off of quarterback Thad Lewis and running back Re'quan Boyette look for some good things from Duke's offensive unit.

As long as the wide receiver by committee led by Johnny Williams, Donovan Varner, and Austin Kelly can open up the field for Lewis then Boyette could have a solid return performance.

But I don't expect the experienced Spiders to completely be outdone and they will keep it interesting for a while. And depending on some intangibles they still have a chance to win the game.

Ultimately it will be Duke being too athletic, strong and sporting their new found confidence that will carry them to this victory. Not something that could easily be said three years ago when the Spiders came calling.

Duke wins 24-10.

Players to watch for Duke: Thad Lewis, Re'quan Boyette, Vincient Rey.

Players to watch for Richmond: Eric Ward