Army's option will not fool Duke on Saturday afternoon when the Black Knights host the Blue Devils on college football action at Michie Stadium at West Point.
Sure, Duke lost their opener to an FCS school and Army went on the highway and beat Eastern Michigan outright as dogs last week, but don't let that fool you. Duke is used to defending the option. Coach David Cutcliffe got his taste of defending the option last year vs Navy. As a matter of fact all of the Duke upperclassmen have played Navy each year they've been at Duke.
The Eastern Michigan defensive players have seen the option before playing against Army last year but the new coaching staff hadn't and it showed as they gave up 300 yards and 6.1 yards per carry, failing to properly prepare their players for the game. Duke by no means is a defensive powerhouse but they do have better athletes then Eastern Michigan. They are familiar with the option offense and a Navy team that runs it more effectively with better athletes then Army. Their defense did somewhat contain the Richmond ground attack to just 3.1 yards per carry last week in the loss.
With only nine scholarship seniors on this Duke team, it makes them the thinnest bunch in the ACC. The guy who will be the difference-maker though for Duke is senior QB Thaddeus Lewis. He is back from a solid season last year where he completed 62% of his passes and had a good 15/6 TD/Int ratio. He scorched FCS Richmond last week for 350 yards and 2 TDs with no turnovers .Richmond is the No. 1 FCS school in country and it doesn't say much for Duke losing this game but they are a quality FCS program.
Lewis has some talented receivers to work with led by sophmore Johnny Williams and junior Austin Kelly. Army caught the struggling MAC program Eastern Michigan off guard and Duke may be an annual bottom feeder but they do come from the more reputable ACC. The Blue Devils will be hungry after blowing the game against a FCS school and Cutcliffe will have them plenty motivated this weekend. Duke will have the speed and the strength advantage in the trenches against this Army team; and with the leadership of Lewis have the best player on the field Saturday.
We expect a big bounce-back game by the Blue Devils and Army will be in for a shocker when the Blue Devils slip away with the cover and the victory. This Duke team is better in every aspect then the lowly Eastern Michigan team Army put away on the road last week. The difference-maker is at QB where Lewis is a smart kid who doesn't turn the ball over compared to EMU QB Andy Schmitt who threw 2 picks last week and couldn't put up the numbers Lewis does on his best day. Army is just 2-7 ATS in home openers over the last nine years as well. We'll back Duke in this game.
Free Pick: Duke +1 (-110)