Before every Duke football game this season, our beat writers will predict whether the Blue Devils will pick up a win. Duke football is coming off a bye week, and looks to bounce back as it welcomes Florida State to Wallace Wade Stadium Friday night:
Ranjan Jindal: Duke 24-20
I’ve been going back-and-forth on this pick for a while, because I was actually pretty impressed with Brock Glenn’s performance against Clemson. He threw two lasers for touchdowns, and maneuvered out of the pocket better than DJ Uiagalelei. Duke’s offense needs a reset, and I think Jonathan Brewer will focus on getting easy completions and the ground game going against a struggling run defense. I see this game coming down to the fourth quarter, with the Blue Devil defense making a key stop to win in Wallace Wade Stadium.
Dom Fenoglio: Florida State 20-17
I think Duke will come out with renewed energy Friday night. The Blue Devils were visibly fatigued in the fourth against Georgia Tech last time out, and head coach Manny Diaz and the staff spoke about using the bye week to recover and grow. However, Florida State is also coming off a bye, and as much as Duke will be looking to avenge its loss, the Seminoles will be looking to prove a whole lot more. Maybe Florida State’s season morale is beyond salvaging, but I think there is simply too much talent on that roster to not bounce back. The game will come down to offensive execution for the Blue Devils, and against what is likely the best opposing defensive front they have seen best far, I don’t see Maalik Murphy and company filling the statsheet.
Caleb Dudley: Duke 14-10
Duke has struggled on offense as of late, and this was especially evident in its first loss of the season to Georgia Tech. I foresee these struggles continuing against what is likely the most talented defense on paper the Blue Devils have seen to date. However, Florida State’s offensive unit has been that much worse, and while it looked slightly better with Brock Glenn under center last game, it is still not much to write home about. With a week for a beat-up defensive unit to rest, I think Manny Diaz’s group will be able to secure bowl eligibility at home in front of a sold-out crowd.
Martin Heintzelman: 24-17
It feels weird to say that Florida State could be a trap game given each program’s historic success level, but here we are. The Seminoles will have a new quarterback and with it a likely morale boost as they look to salvage the remains of their season, while the Blue Devils are coming off a loss and a bye week. With Brock Glenn running the show I think Florida State will have a new level of energy, while Duke could struggle after a week off. Look for the Seminoles to upset the host team in Durham.
Rodrigo Amare: Duke 17-14
Even with the Seminoles’ abysmal play throughout 2024, Duke’s offensive struggles should make this a close game. The Blue Devils have been carried by Diaz’s stifling defense this season, and I think that continues Friday in a gritty, hard-fought affair. Both teams are well rested after their bye weeks, so neither team has an advantage in that respect. Ultimately, I think Duke’s squad has been hardened by several close wins and trust in the coaching staff and teammates more than Florida State, who’s historically poor start has led to benchings and widespread negative morale. The difference in the two teams’ mentalities could define Friday’s encounter.
Abby DiSalvo: Duke 20-17
Duke and Florida State have each had a chance to rest and reset in their bye weeks. Inconsistencies from both teams might make Friday’s game low-scoring, but I think the Blue Devils will walk away with the win. Florida State’s rushing offense ranks last in the country, so Seminole success is highly dependent on a repeat of Brock Glenn’s phenomenal Week 6 passing performance. However, Duke reliably excels at getting into the backfield, which could make it difficult for Florida State to get points on the board. Though the Blue Devil offense has lacked consistency of its own, especially on third-down conversions, slip-ups in the Seminoles’ defense could allow for a few explosive rushing or passing plays and keep them in the game. Energy will run high as both teams look to make a statement on the field, but I think Duke will put together the pieces to deliver its first program win against Florida State.
Tyler Walley: Duke 17-13
In six games this season, Florida State has scored more than 16 points on offense just once, and I doubt that trend changes in Durham. While Seminoles quarterback Brock Glenn has played marginally better than DJ Uiagalelei, I think the Blue Devils’ stout pass rush and secondary will make it a long day for him and the struggling Florida State offense. Meanwhile, the Murphy-led offense has yet to put together a dominant game against a Power-4 opponent this year, and I can’t see this as a “get-right” game for Jonathan Brewer’s unit given Florida State’s highly capable defensive front. This contest will be close — maybe too close given these teams’ seemingly opposite trajectories — but I have Duke’s tenacious defense securing the win to improve to 6-1.
Season records:
Jindal: 3-0
Fenoglio: 2-1
Dudley: 2-1
Heintzelman: 2-1
Amare: 2-1
DiSalvo: 3-0
Walley: 3-0
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Dom Fenoglio is a Trinity junior and a sports managing editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.
Ranjan Jindal is a Trinity junior and sports editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.
Rodrigo Amare is a Trinity sophomore and assistant Blue Zone editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.
Martin Heintzelman is a Trinity junior and Blue Zone editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.
Abby DiSalvo is a Trinity sophomore and assistant Blue Zone editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.