ESPN bowl projections predict two interesting matchups for Duke

For many, Duke's 3-0 start, with wins over Tulane and Illinois, is a huge surprise, as prognosticators expected the Blue Devils to struggle after winning an ACC title last season but losing star quarterback Darian Mensah to Miami.

With a final non-conference game against FCS member William & Mary coming up this Saturday, Manny Diaz’s squad will all but certainly enter the month of October, and their bye week, undefeated.

While the Blue Devils certainly have eyes on bigger things, ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach predict Duke will play in bowl games after Christmas.

Last week Bonagura had the Blue Devils staying near Durham and playing in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte against Maryland. Now, he has Diaz’s squad facing another Big Ten team, Northwestern, in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 26 at Yankee Stadium.

Schlabach stuck to his guns for another week, putting the Blue Devils in the Freedom Mortgage Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md., against South Florida on Dec. 28.

The Blue Devils are halfway to being eligible for a fifth straight bowl game for the first time in program history. 

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This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: ESPN bowl projections predict two interesting matchups for Duke