Next up is Duke Football: Wake Forest On The Road

Date November 30th || Time Lunch || Venue Allegacy FCU Stadium || video ACC Network

Manny Diaz finds himself in rare territory: Fred Goldsmith started off with an eight-win season. Mike Elko had a nine-win season.

No one else has achieved eight wins in their first season. Herman Steiner won seven in his first season – 103 years ago. Wallace Wade and Eddie Cameron each won five times in their first year. So did Bill Murray, Tom Harp and Steve Spurrier. Mike McGee won six.

Diaz has a chance to keep up with Elko if Duke wins on Saturday, and if he does that and Duke wins its bowl game, the Blue Devils could have a double-digit winning season for the second time. David Cutcliffe first achieved this in 2013.

Wake has been grooming Duke for years, but Demon Deacon coach Dave Clawson has had a tough couple of years: Last year the Deacs finished 4-8 and this year they’re 4-7 with one game left. Worse, Wake has lost three games in a row.

Could they pull off the surprise?

Well, yes. You could.

However, it might not be easy.

Duke’s secondary makes passing risky, but Wake’s running game has also been problematic. You have to find a way to put points on the board. Demond Claiborne is a good defender, but of course his success depends on how well his line performs.

As for Duke, Maalik Murphy is now the owner of the Duke passing touchdown record. The Blue Devils’ offense was unpredictable, but it was effective. The defense has generally made the difference when the offense struggles.

Duke should be and will be the favorite, but given the history of this rivalry, the occasionally electric nature of the games and the cold air, we wouldn’t put too much stock in it. It will probably be another big fight.