Take one glance at Duke's remaining schedule, and notice that Duke's final four opponents own a combined 6-21 record.
Tempting, isn't it?
But before making Bowl reservations for New Year's weekend, stop and think for a moment. Did something get overlooked?
Indeed, that something is Clemson, the Blue Devils' next opponent. In the two team's last 17 meetings, Duke has emerged victorious exactly twice.
When the Tigers (2-5, 1-4 in the ACC) walk into Wallace Wade Stadium tomorrow afternoon, the Blue Devils (3-4, 1-4) won't see a team that's mired in an uncharacteristically low seventh place in the ACC. They won't see an offense that has turned the ball over 20 times in only seven games this season.
Instead, they'll see one of the most tenacious and physical defenses in the conference. They'll see a Clemson team that has dominated Duke in recent years.
"We're playing Clemson on Saturday, a team that Duke doesn't make a habit of beating," coach Fred Goldsmith said. "We've got a big task to do to try to turn that around against Clemson.
"We've struggled to beat people week by week in recent years. We sure don't have a chance to beat anybody if we're thinking about anything but the first team we play. Yeah, we can beat anybody we play, but we've already proven we can lose to anybody we play."
If Duke needs a reason not to look past the Tigers, all it needs to do is meet Clemson defensive tackle Adrian Dingle. The senior leads a ferocious Clemson pass rush that has sent the opposing quarterback to the turf an ACC-leading 24 times.
Ranking third among Clemson's all-time sack leaders behind former NFL stalwarts Michael Dean Perry and William "The Refrigerator" Perry, Dingle has already racked up nine sacks this season playing on a sore knee and only on selected downs.
"[Dingle]'s a really strong and physical player that never quits, and I think that's the toughest kind of player to go against," senior offensive lineman Lennie Friedman said. "[He has] great technique, great energy, and he's not going to stop. He's going to get the quarterback no matter what the cost is, and that's what makes him great."
The rest of the Clemson defense isn't too shabby either. The Tigers still rank third in the conference in points allowed and total defense, even after surrendering 48 points to FSU last week.
Even more impressive, however, the Clemson passing defense has been superb in holding the opposition to a completion rate of under 50 percent-a stat that is sure to give Duke quarterback Bobby Campbell, making his first start of the season, plenty to think about.
"They have some great athletes over there year in and year out; there's no way we're going to take them lightly," Campbell said. "We expect a really tough game. They take pride in their defense, and it's going to be a big test for us this week."
That test may have just gotten a bit tougher for Campbell, who will be without the services of Richmond Flowers, Duke's leading receiver. Flowers underwent an emergency appendectomy late Tuesday night and will likely be out until Duke's game against Maryland in three weeks.
Whether or not Campbell can ace this test will probably decide the outcome of the game. With the Duke defense having played well in recent weeks and the Clemson offense facing more questions and scrutiny than the sitting President, the game will likely come down to Campbell's ability to lead his offense down the field and put points on the scoreboard.
"I think our offense is capable of scoring on any defense we play against," Friedman said. "Clemson is terrific defensively, but if we do what we do best, and we go out there and all play to the best of our ability, and not just one person on that offensive side, we can do what we need to do.
"For our team to go out there and play a defense that's good and beat them, it would be a great victory for Duke."
Notes: Duke safety Eric Jones sprained the MCL in his left knee in the opening minutes of the N.C. State game and is unlikely to play against Clemson.... Safety Domarco Fox and cornerback Antwan Edwards, the two veteran anchors of the Clemson secondary, are hampered by injuries and did not practice early in the week.... Clemson may also be without the services of two other starters, running back Travis Zachery and linebacker O.J. Childress.
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