Duke vs. Michigan: Old Rivalry Will Bring Same Results in Blue Devils' Blowout

In the early 1990's, the Christian Laettner led Duke Blue Devils and Fab Five dominated Michigan Wolverines had an intense rivalry that came to a head in the 1992 National Championship Game. 

Duke won.

Since then, the teams have gone in opposite directions. Michigan has fallen on hard times, while Duke has won two more National Championships. 

The Wolverines have experienced something of a resurgence in recent years. In 2011, they made a trip to the NCAA Tournament, got to the second round and were defeated by Duke. It's consistent.

So, is there a reason to think that the Maui Invitational showdown will go any better? Not really.

Michigan is a good team, ranked No. 15 in the AP and USA Today Polls, but Duke is just a better team. They are No. 6 in both polls. They are the lineup filled with potential All-Americans.

It's not that Michigan is bad, Duke is just better. In 1992, the Fab Five was incredible, Duke was just better. 

Now, I don't know that this is the season where Mike Krzyzewski will win his fifth National Championship. Duke has teams that are just better than they are, and the NCAA Tournament is about as unpredictable a tournament as the world of sports has.

But none of that means that Duke will have any trouble with the Wolverines. Michigan is still a few years away from being a nationally relevant team again, and Duke always is. 

So, while the rankings for this game are close, I can't help but think that Duke will blow this team out. I'd be surprised if it was ever close. 

The history tells us one thing, the present tells us another. 

But in the case of tonight's game, both favor Duke.