SEPTEMBER
2 – TEMPLE (3-9)
10 – at Northwestern (3-9)
17 – NORTH CAROLINA A&T (5-6)
24 – at Kansas (2-10)
Pre-season couldn't set up Duke any better. But I'm sure all their fans are looking at their respective schedules and see Duke on it and say, "There's a W".
Then there's this: A November to remember. Arguably as tough a schedule as Duke can get.
NOVEMBER
4 – at Boston College (6-6; invited to the Military Bowl)
12 – VIRGINIA TECH (6-7; lost to Maryland, 54-10, in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl)
19 – at Pittsburgh (11-3; lost to No. 10 Michigan State, 31-21, in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl)
26 – WAKE FOREST (11-3; defeated Rutgers, 38-10, in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl)
So what it comes down to is the middle of the season.
OCTOBER
1 – VIRGINIA (6-6; invited to the Wasabi Fenway Bowl)
8 – at Georgia Tech (3-9)
15 – NORTH CAROLINA (6-7; lost to South Carolina, 38-21, in the Duke's Mayo Bowl)
22 – at Miami (7-5; invited to the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl)
29 – Open date
Duke could pick up none or all four games. This is where this year's team makes it or breaks it.