With seven wins in their first 10 games, the Duke Blue Devils have done more than cement their place on the bowl calendar. Head coach [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] and his team look poised for a primary spot on the schedule.
According to the latest projections from USA TODAY Sports’ Erick Smith, Duke fans can book a trip to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl for a January 3rd game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
The Golden Gophers have rebounded well from a 2-3 start to the season. They beat the USC Trojans, UCLA Bruins, and a ranked Illinois Fighting Illini squad during a recent four-game win streak. Minnesota already reached six wins, which is helpful with a closing schedule that includes the Penn State Nittany Lions and Wisconsin Badgers.
Smith still thinks the Miami Hurricanes are in line for the ACC title, setting them up for a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff bracket. The SMU Mustangs, Miami’s likely opponent in the championship game, didn’t make the 12-team field.