The Duke Blue Devils seem like a strong candidate for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl this season.
The newest USA TODAY Sports projections from Erick Smith released on Tuesday paired the 6-2 Blue Devils with the Iowa Hawkeyes in the popular bowl game.
The Hawkeyes, long known for their defensive prowess under head coach Kirk Ferentz, are off to a 5-3 start in 2024 thanks to three wins in their first five conference games. The Iowa defense is allowing 19.0 points so far this season, its ninth straight year surrendering fewer than 20.0 points per game.
The Duke’s Mayo Bowl has become a fan favorite on social media thanks to some unique traditions like its mascot, a jar of mayonnaise named Tubby. The winning coach gets a mayo bath instead of a Gatorade bath, and former ESPN commentator Mike Golic Jr. went viral for dunking an Oreo in mayonnaise during the 2021 edition of the game.
CBS Sports writer Jerry Palm put the Blue Devils in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in his Week 10 update as well, albeit against the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines.