T.M. Selection: Duke

Both teams have plenty of new faces on both sides of the ball. Each had difficulties last year, but most teams did during the abbreviated Covid season. The bottom line here for me though today gentlemen is that the Blue Devils hammered Charlotte 53-19 last year and I expect a similar sort of outcome today as well. Gunnar Holmberg doesn't have a lot of experience as QB, but he's been with Duke for three years. He knows the system and that's a small advantage he has. Duke gave up 38.1 PPG last year, but it was decimated with injury and COVID issues. I expect a BIG step up from this group today. The 49ers were also hit hard by COVID last season. Chris Reynolds is a decent QB, but I think he'll have his hands full today with this improved Duke defense. The Blue Devils are better across the board and I look for them to pull away in the fourth quarter. Lay the points.

T.M. Prediction: 45-21 Duke