Third and goal: Memphis

Duke looks to stay on the winning track when they take on the Memphis Tigers at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium at 4:30 p.m. Here are the keys to this afternoon’s game:

Stay Confident

Only three minutes into the first quarter of Duke’s Week 1 matchup against North Carolina Central, the Blue Devils faced a fourth-and-inches situation just barely past midfield. An optimistic David Cutcliffe elected to keep his offense on the field. Quarterback Anthony Boone stood tall in shotgun formation, took the snap, and bolted through the gap to keep the drive alive. With a hop in his step, Boone jumped up and clapped his hands in excitement. In retrospect, the play was a trivial one, but Boone’s reaction was memorable. In many moments like Boone’s, the Blue Devils boasted tremendous confidence, something they’ll need to carry with them to Memphis when they take on the Tigers. Despite playing against a better team and playing on the road, Duke must remain poised and go into the game with the same mentality.

Don’t Take Memphis Lightly

While Duke must stay confident, they cannot overlook their opponent. In recent years, Memphis has been stuck in the basement of college football and their punter arguably posed the biggest threat to opposing teams. Senior Tom Hornsey, one of the nation’s best at his position, punted an FBS-leading 96 times in 2011. Hornsey’s punt total of 61 times a season ago is reflective of his team’s improvement. Memphis’ win total of four last year is just one shy of their win total in the previous three seasons. One of the Tigers' eight losses last year came against Duke at Wallace Wade Stadium, when Sean Renfree led the Blue Devils to a 38-14 win with 314 passing yards and four touchdowns. Memphis is a much improved team from last season, and it is essential that Duke understands that.

Recognize Inexperience 

Generic Script

In a dominant performance against N.C. Central, Duke was able to rid themselves of any possible first-game jitters. Memphis, on the other hand, has yet to play their first game of the season. In fact, their starting quarterback, Paxton Lynch, has never taken the field at the collegiate level. It came as a big surprise to all when head coach Justin Fuente, starting his second season with Memphis, named the 6’6” redshirt freshman the starter over last year’s starter Jacob Karam. You have to wonder if Fuente’s decision truly speaks to Lynch’s abilities or whether Fuente sees developing Lynch as the key to future success. Regardless, there are major concerns in protecting him after losing All-Conference-USA left tackle Jordan Devey. Facing a freshman quarterback and a weak offensive line, expect Kenny Anunike and company to apply pressure early and often. In addition to the newcomer at quarterback, the Tigers are also inexperienced at wide receiver and in the secondary. In all, Memphis is returning just 16 starters.