Duke heads into its road matchup with NC State carrying momentum and a clear edge on paper. The Blue Devils are 6-2 overall and 3-2 in ACC play, and they’ve strung together two straight wins as they try to keep climbing in the conference race.
NC State comes in at 4-4 overall and 2-3 in ACC games after beating California last week. That win gave the Wolfpack a little lift, but they’ll need more of it to slow down Duke.
The timing makes this one tricky for the Blue Devils, too. They’ve got a huge game against top-seeded Miami next week, which gives this trip to NC State the feel of a classic trap spot.
Still, Duke is expected to handle business. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Blue Devils a 71.5 percent chance to beat the Wolfpack on the road.
A big reason for Duke’s confidence is Nate Sheppard. The star running back has put himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation with the way he’s played this season, even if he’s still on the outside looking in right now. He’s been the engine of the offense, piling up 972 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground while also adding 31 catches for 302 yards and four more scores through the air.
Duke has leaned on Sheppard to set the tone all year, and that figures to be the case again against NC State. If he delivers another strong performance, the Blue Devils should be in good shape to keep the winning streak going.
Kickoff is set for 9:30 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Dukes Bowl Picture Is Taking Shape In A Way Fans Will Notice
Dukes bowl picture is starting to come into focus in a way that should have Blue Devils fans paying attention. After the 47-2 win over Boston College, the program became bowl-eligible for the fifth straight season, a run that has quietly become part of the standard in Durham. Along the way, Nate Sheppard made his own mark by setting a school record with five touchdowns, giving the night both a milestone feel and a reminder of how much firepower this team can bring when it is rolling.
The next question is less about whether Duke will be playing in December and more about where the destination lands. Various outlets have already floated a range of possible matchups, with projected opponents including Arizona, Nebraska, South Florida, Wisconsin and Oregon, a mix that reflects just how many directions the postseason could still take. For a team that has built consistency over the past five seasons, the bowl assignment will add another layer to a year that is already trending toward a familiar ending, only with one more twist still to come. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Now Faces Anxious NCAA Wait After Painful ACC Exit
Dukes ACC Championship run ended in frustrating fashion with a 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Boston College, a result that left the Blue Devils with more waiting than celebrating as the postseason picture takes shape. Shae Wozniak provided Dukes lone goal, finishing a setup from Juliette Schulten, but it was not enough to keep the Blue Devils moving deeper into the conference tournament.
Now the focus shifts to the NCAA Championship announcement, where Duke will learn whether its season continues after finishing 12-5. The Blue Devils have done enough over the course of the year to stay in the conversation, but after a painful exit in the ACC bracket, there is no certainty yet about what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Manny Diaz Just Gave Duke Fans A Reason To Exhale
Dukes rise under Manny Diaz has naturally put the program back in the middle of the coaching rumor mill, and this week the head coach took a direct swing at the noise. Diaz addressed speculation that had linked him to other openings, including Florida State, and said he is happy at Duke, brushing aside the internet chatter that tends to follow any coach whose team starts drawing attention.
The timing only added to the buzz, with Florida State recently moving on from Mike Norvell and Diazs Florida ties making him an obvious name for outsiders to float. Diaz also acknowledged that Dukes success has created another layer of uncertainty, with speculation spilling over to players and possible transfers, but for now he made it clear where he says he wants to be. [Read more 🡒]