Duke Football 2011 Schedule: A Game-By-Game Breakdown
The final games, times and dates haven't been ironed out just yet, but the Blue Devils are gearing up for spring practice with one thing on their minds.
The 2011 year can be and probably should be the first year since 1994 when the Duke football team goes to a bowl game.
While nothing comes easy for a rebuilding program, the combination of a more favorable non-conference slate and a few other rebuilding conference opponents could get Duke to the six wins they need to be bowl eligible.
Here is a look at each game and a way too early look at how likely Duke is to win them.
Richmond, Sept. 3
1 of 13
Duke opens up its season with a traditional contest against an FCS level school.
Once again, it is the Richmond Spiders, who have played Duke twice in the last four years and won twice. Both times the Spiders were coached by current Virginia coach Mike London.
Duke is more experienced and will return most of its key offensive weapons. As long as they can score and get reasonable defensive play, they should win their first game.
But nothing is ever set in stone and Richmond knows it can beat Duke.
Stanford, Sept. 10
2 of 13
For the second time in as many seasons, Duke hosts a national title contender with a Heisman Trophy candidate.
Last year's showdown with Alabama was one-sided. A few years ago, before Stanford returned to prominence, this may have seemed like a more even matchup.
That isn't the case. Unless Duke improves a lot more than they probably will, this should be a one-sided affair for Andrew Luck and his fellow Cardinals.
Stanford is a program Duke could model themselves after, but there is a long way to go before that will happen.
Tulane, Sept. 24
3 of 13
The Green Wave didn't have a 2010 season that was much better than Duke's and while Duke fans might be excited about the potential to come away with a win, it is way too early to tell.
There is potential in this game, but as Duke players, coaches and fans should be very well aware of by now, potential is nothing unless you use it.
Duke hasn't and unless they execute, they will not win.
The Blue Devils will have an ACC game between the Stanford game and this one. They really will need to be 2-1 at worst coming into this game to have a realistic chance at a bowl game.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Florida International, Oct. 1
4 of 13
FIU at one point in history was not much of a football program. Things change.
Last season, the Golden Panthers finished 7-6, including a victory in the Little Caesar's Bowl. Add in the fact they play in the recruiting hotbed of Florida and this will not be easy as some Duke fans used to basketball success may think.
This is a big game for multiple reasons. It is the last non-conference game and a win could give them a 3-1 non-conference record if everything else works out perfectly.
A win gives them a heads up on bowl eligibility. It also looks good for recruiting, as Duke has grabbed some of its best players over recent years from the state of Florida.
Wake Forest, TBD
5 of 13
Duke will have its annual game with conference rival Wake Forest at some point next year. No ACC dates and times have been finalized yet.
One thing is for sure—a win would get a big monkey off David Cutcliffe's back. He hasn't been able to beat his rival Jim Grobe since he arrived, even last season, in one of Wake's worst since Grobe got there.
The Blue Devils have come close, but never have been able to get over the hump. A win plus a strong non-conference showing would give the Blue Devils hope for a bowl.
With nothing to support the prediction other than it may finally be time for a win, the odds have to say Duke finally wins this matchup, but it will be close.
Florida State, TBD
6 of 13
Duke has never had much opportunity to beat the Seminoles in football and if they didn't do it in FSU's "down" years, they likely never will.
That pretty much means the resurgent program that dominated college football and the ACC in the 1990s is likely to have its way with the Blue Devils, barring a miracle or scandal that rocks the Noles.
With neither a real possibility, the best Duke can probably hope for is to keep the game somewhat respectable.
Boston College, TBD
7 of 13
The Eagles are downplayed and underestimated every year and every year they make a bowl.
The same will probably be true in 2011. The Eagles will be rebuilding and trying to get better, much like Duke. The 2010 contest was a good one and the Blue Devils had a real shot at winning.
Their youth showed, though, and BC took care of business. Beating them in their own building next year will be much harder, even for an improved Duke team.
This game could go either way, but the edge definitely has to go to Boston College.
Virginia, TBD
8 of 13
Virginia has been struggling of late and of all teams in the ACC, they have been the one Duke has had the most success with.
But now they have a new coach, new energy and after a year of growing pains, should be better. Will their better be more than Duke's, though?
London has beaten Duke while coaching at Richmond. He has beaten David Cutcliffe before. They have the added advantage of having the game at Virginia and the extra motivation having lost to Duke three straight times.
Duke needs to make it four if they want a chance at a bowl, but that won't be easy.
Georgia Tech, TBD
9 of 13
The Yellow Jackets struggled a lot in 2010, but it wasn't enough for Duke, who lost a close contest at home.
This year's game is in Atlanta and having never lost to Duke, coach Paul Johnson isn't going to want to start now.
That being said, if Duke can have a good record heading into this game, it will be crucial for them to pick up a win. It will be tough, but this is one of the more winnable road conference games they have.
Miami, TBD
10 of 13
Expect the Hurricanes to be more disciplined this season. That lack of discipline nearly cost them against Duke in 2010.
The Blue Devils may still have a shot, but this game on the road will be no picnic and with as much talent as the Hurricanes have, a win is probably less likely in 2011 than it might have been had Randy Shannon been retained as coach.
Virginia Tech, TBD
11 of 13
The Hokies lose a lot of the talent of their ACC Championship squad, but are still way out of Duke's league.
The Hokies have only been threatened by Duke in conference play one time and as improved as Duke has been under David Cutcliffe, 2011 will not likely be the year that the Blue Devils break through.
Still, a close game would be welcome, even if an upset isn't likely.
North Carolina, TBD
12 of 13
Duke hasn't had much luck with their rivals on the gridiron. North Carolina has dominated this series for a while now.
David Cutcliffe though is going to need to find a way to pull out a game on the road, a game that could be the difference between Duke going to a bowl and them staying home again.
If that is the case, it is added pressure on the Blue Devils against a very talented team in North Carolina. Still, anything is possible and a win is not outside of the realm of possibility.
Schedule Outlook
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Duke has a real chance at going to a bowl and they may even have the best team since David Cutcliffe has been in Durham.
That being said, it won't be easy and a 6-6 season may be the best case scenario.
Duke's winnable games include FIU, Richmond, Tulane, North Carolina, Virginia and Wake Forest, and none of those are give-mes.
Duke could sneak by Boston College, Miami or Georgia Tech, but those are less likely. Teams like Stanford, Florida State and Virginia Tech are most likely loses.
So if the Blue Devils can't win all or most of the winnable games or at least one or two games against teams they might be able to sneak up on, it could be a disappointing season in Durham.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
