All season long, The Chronicle's football beats have predicted whether or not Duke will come away with a win. Thursday's TaxSlayer Gator Bowl is no different, as the Blue Devils are preparing to take on No. 16 Ole Miss at 8 p.m.:
Ranjan Jindal: Ole Miss 31-20
It has been over a month since both of these teams played, so I expect some rust to start the Gator Bowl. I think Ole Miss is a phenomenal team with an elite quarterback, and its defensive line will give the Blue Devils fits. But I do think Duke has the opportunity to make this closer than the spread; while the Rebels gain yards, they struggle to put the ball in the end zone at times and Jaxson Dart did have some questionable decision making to end the season. Lane Kiffin is an aggressive play caller and will likely go for a lot of fourth downs, so for the Blue Devils to win, they need to get some turnovers. On the flip side, Henry Belin IV will give Jonathan Brewer a new look with his running ability, and the Duke faithful hasn’t seen a fully healthy Belin play in two years. I think a well-coached Blue Devil squad can keep it close to start, but Dart throws a couple of second-half touchdowns to win the game.
Dom Fenoglio: Ole Miss 34-24
Even if Duke was at full strength, I would have a hard time picking against the Rebels in this game. Dart has something to prove in terms of NFL stock, and Kiffin has likely used recent SEC bowl performances and his squad’s College Football Playoff snub as motivation. Frankly, the Blue Devils will have a hard time matching up in terms of pure talent. Still, I am a big believer in head coach Manny Diaz’s squad, and I think this game will not be a blowout. Like the Miami game earlier this season, Duke may even lead at points. It will take a significant turnover margin and some unforced errors from the Rebels for the Blue Devils to win another bowl game, though, and I have Kiffin getting the last laugh.
Caleb Dudley: Ole Miss 28-10
Duke has had a spectacular season, but I think it will have its hands full with the Rebels. The Blue Devils are at a major disadvantage down their top two quarterbacks, and Belin will have a tall task against a stout opposing defense. Ole Miss boasts an excellent defensive front bolstered by star defensive tackle Walter Nolen, and I think as a result Duke will massively struggle to run the ball. In the end, Dart and the Rebel offense will outpace Belin and company, leaving Duke just short of a 10-win season.
Martin Heintzelman: Duke 27-23
This is definitely the unpopular pick, and I understand why. The Blue Devils are down a lot of key pieces, including quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, while the Rebels are returning a likely future NFL draft pick in Dart. Ole Miss has an outstanding offense and could very well have made the College Football Playoff if it weren’t for a few ugly losses to weaker SEC teams. But at the end of the day, I think this one will come down to who wants it more. Those who remain with Duke for the bowl game have a whole lot to prove, and very little to lose. The team that wants it more will take this game, and I think at the end of the day it will be the Blue Devils who do.
Abby DiSalvo: Ole Miss 28-17
When it comes to Duke football, I’m not usually one to side with the odds. The Blue Devils have proven they can perform in the face of uncertainty, and I would gladly take their regular-season chances over the Rebels. With that being said, this bowl game hinges on too many caveats. Duke’s already-inconsistent offense has been slashed by transfer portal opt-outs, and I doubt even a great game from Belin can top the performance of Dart. The Blue Devil defense, while still solid, hasn’t had to contain an offense of this level for nearly two months. Ole Miss will be determined to gather its 10th victory after being left out of the Playoff, and with the Rebels in full fighting form, I ultimately see the Blue Devils walking away from Jacksonville, Fla., empty-handed.
Rodrigo Amare: Ole Miss 31-10
Duke football’s 2024 season was filled with incredible highs, from the team’s 20-point comeback victory against North Carolina to the program’s first ever defeat of Florida State. While Blue Devil fans will no doubt look back fondly on several moments from this campaign for years to come, I don’t think the Duke faithful will want to remember the 2025 Gator Bowl. The Blue Devils not only face a significantly more talented Ole Miss squad that just barely missed the College Football Playoff after a grueling SEC schedule, but Duke will also miss several key players on both sides of the ball, most notably Murphy. Given these circumstances, anything less than absolute drubbing should be considered a success from the Blue Devils’ perspective.
Tyler Walley: Ole Miss 24-14
Make no mistake — whatever happens in the Gator Bowl, the Blue Devils’ 2024 season is unequivocally a success. A first-year head coach scraping together nine wins despite multiple outgoing transfers is a victory, and I’m excited to see where this program goes in 2025. I believe the defensive identity 2024 Duke football has built up — particularly from defensive backs Chandler Rivers and Terry Moore — will limit Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart’s success through the air, and thus keep the Blue Devils somewhat competitive in the game. Dart has completed just 58.6% of his passes while tossing three interceptions in his last three games, showing that Duke’s secondary has room to capitalize. However, the Blue Devils’ dreadful rushing offense, combined with the uncertainty of Belin as the starting quarterback, has me taking the Rebels by a two-score margin to snap Duke’s five-game bowl win streak.
Season records
Jindal: 9-0
Fenoglio: 7-2
Dudley: 8-1
Heintzelman: 7-2
DiSalvo: 7-2
Amare: 7-2
Walley: 7-2
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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.