Duke vs Kansas
Television: ACCN
TIme: 4:00 p.m.
Announcers Jalyn Johnson, Mark Herzlich, Chris Cotter
Location: Wallace Wade Stadium
The motto has been the same since week 1; discipline, poise and tempo. Another game, same mind set. The 2-1 Duke Blue Devils look to stay undefeated at home, before entering conference play, when they host the 1-2 Kansas Jayhawks today – looking for their 3rd consecutive win.
The series between the two respected blue-bloods is tied 1-1, with Duke defeating the Jayhawks back in 2014 when Shaun Wilson rushed for a single-game high 245 rushing yards.
The ACC has been a complete joke of a conference with their strength of schedule and inconsistencies week in and week out. Duke hopes to elevate the conference against a second straight power-five conference foe.
As the season settles more, defenses will continue stacking the box against the Blue Devils – forcing quarterback Gunnar Holmberg to find Pancol, Calhoun, and his number 1 target, who had 16 targets a week ago, Jake Bobo on the outside. Gunnar does indeed get the ball out of his hands quick – sort of “Roethlisberger-esque”- due the offensive line not holding containment. To his success, Holmberg the last two contests has done fairly well not telegraphing his passes.
Mateo Durant should see a lot of touches this week, as Kanas is ranked 122 out of 130 FBS schools in run defense – allowing 235 yards per game. Due to Mataeo Durant getting nearly 50 percent of the touches in the Blue Devils’ offense expect, Kansas to gameplay around stacking 7 to 8 Jayhawks in the box. It remains to be seen if they can consistently stop the run, where they rank bottom tier in the country.
Coach Cutcliffe stated the importance of not looking ahead and focusing on what’s right in front of you. Duke has to start out with tempo and not let up off the gas pedal, as they did a week ago where it nearly cost them the ball game versus Northwestern.
“In two ball games this season the Jayhawks were in a one possession game in the second half with their opponents, where a play here or there changed the outcome” Cutcliffe mentioned in his weekly presser.
We know the big game is next week 8 miles down Tobacco Road, but what’s important is focusing on what is at hand, and that’s protecting Wallace Wade – leaving 3-1 on the season.