Duke Has Nothing To Lose This Week in Matchup With Kansas

Other than the game itself Duke doesn't have much at risk this week when they travel to Lawrence, Kansas to take on the No. 22 ranked Jayhawks.

Believe it or not that may be a good thing leading up to the game.

The fact is the Blue Devils, who go into the game 22-point underdogs, in reality lost everything two weeks ago in an opening season debacle against Richmond.

Duke began the season with high hopes of reaching a bowl for the first time since 1994. Some prognosticators were poised to have Duke be a Cinderella Team this year, or at the very least one not destined to spend the season at the bottom of the ACC's Coastal Division.

Then the Spiders, who most though Duke would handle, came crawling into Wallace Wade Stadium and quickly squashed those hopes with a 24-16 win. That game brought the Duke World to a grinding halt and reality once again set in.

They are Duke. They are suppose to lose; no big surprise there right?

Last week allowed for some minimal redemption when the Blue Devils traveled to West Point and after a shaky start came home with a moderately impressive 35-19 win.

But when you compare Duke with Kansas, you find there is simply no comparison.

When Duke scheduled Kansas however many years ago they weren't counting on the Jayhawks becoming a recognized contender in football.

Under Coach Mark Mangino, Kansas has spread its wings and found success with players like quarterback Todd Reesing leading the way.

The Jayhawks are flying high and already have posted two no-contest victories over the likes of Northern Colorado and UTEP.

With their offense putting up big numbers and their defense giving up equally small numbers it is no wonder not many, including myself, expect Duke to have much of a chance in this one.

However, there may be a chance, albeit a small one, if the Duke players can truly play like a team with nothing to lose.

Every once in a while you will see one of those teams jump up and bite somebody. That has never been Duke and if David Cutcliffe wants to show this team is really turning the corner then the Blue Devils need to come out of the gates with a reckless abandon.

There will be no come from behind win if you spot Kansas 10 early points.

Duke will have to throw everything and the kitchen sink at the Jayhawks to even have a prayer, but if they simply play loose and confident they could pull off a shocker.

There is talent there, not as much as Kansas, but talent none-the-less. Get that talent to believe in the impossible then who knows what can happen.

It is Cutcliffe's job to make that happen.

One thing that will be going for the Blue Devils is that they shouldn't be worried about an embarrassing one-sided game. They have been there and done that countless times.

If Duke is truly different like Cutcliffe claims, then then the Devils need to show it with a gutsy performance, because that is what it will take.

If Duke loses no one will be shocked, and it may scarcely warrant a brief headline note on the ESPN.com College Football page. No one will think less of Duke and bowl chances won't necessarily be shattered.

None of that stuff will matter to most. If the Blue Devil players can take that to heart and use it as emotional fuel, Saturday could be like any given day in college football.

Because even the bad teams win a big game every once in a while.