Duke Blue Devils 2023 Future Odds

Resurgent Blue Devils Coming off Winningest Season Since 2014

Former Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko had a fantastic first season at Duke, guiding the Blue Devils to their most wins in almost a decade. He not only developed a quarterback but also helped install a defense that was vastly improved.

Can he keep the Blue Devils trending in the right direction? Time will tell, but there’s reason for optimism in Durham. Read on as we break down the Duke Blue Devils future odds in our team preview.

Blue Devils logo Duke Blue Devils At A Glance

Odds to WinOpening OddsCurrent Odds
National Championship+25000+25000
Conference+2700+4000
Regular Season Win Total6.5 (o+110, u-130)6.5 (o+120, u-150)
To Make Playoffs (if applicable)N/AN/A

Arrow Pointing Up for Elko and Co.

Projected for just 3.0 wins, the Duke Blue Devils crushed expectations last season under new head coach Mike Elko. They went 9-4, including 5-3 in ACC play, and beat UCF 30-13 in the Military Bowl. It was their fourth consecutive bowl win, but the first since 2018.

That begs the question, what will Elko and Co. do for an encore? What they won’t do is sneak up on anyone. More is expected in 2023. But that’s fine. The Blue Devils seem well-equipped to handle all that comes with that. Bringing back quarterback Riley Leonard helps. Leonard is coming off a breakout season in which he passed for 2,967 yards and 20 touchdowns and led the team in rushing, with 699 yards and 13 scores. They also return all-ACC offensive tackle Graham Barton.

Duke ranked 32nd in scoring defense (22.08 PPG allowed) in 2022, and it should be formidable on that side of the ball again under the defensive-minded Elko. If the Blue Devils are able to put everything together, a Top 25 ranking and bowl game are possibilities. That’s probably the ceiling at the moment, but clearly, the arrow is pointing up.

National Championship Odds: Better Luck Another Year

Duke? National champions? In men’s basketball, sure. But football? Most definitely not.

Listen, Elko did wonders in Year One, leading the Blue Devils to their most wins since 2014. But the Blue Devils aren’t positioned to make another big jump, at least not yet. While a solid foundation is in place, a Top 25 college football ranking is possible. But anything more than that will be gravy. The Duke Blue Devils future odds say as much.

Conference Odds: It’s Florida State’s or Clemson’s to Lose

After opening at +2700, the Duke Blue Devils future odds have ballooned to +4000. That’s telling. The Blue Devils are on the upswing under Elko, but they’re still a long shot at best to win the ACC. Only six schools possess longer odds.

Clemson has won the ACC seven of the last eight seasons, with the exception of 2021 (Pittsburgh). The Tigers are again a slight +150 favorite, ahead of Florida State at +160. Many NCAAF predictions have both those schools landing in the preseason Top 10. For Duke, which last won the ACC in 1989, that’s a lot to overcome. Too much, in fact.

Regular Season Wins: Tough Start Will Set the Course

Duke is projected for 6.5 wins, with the Over juiced to +120. It’s exceeded that total just twice in the last seven seasons, but expectations are obviously higher after last season’s turnaround. Can it do so again?

The Blue Devils will be tested right from the jump, with Clemson slated to visit on Sept. 4. Duke is currently a 13-point underdog (-110) and +385 to win outright, with Clemson priced at -500. The non-conference slate is tricky too, highlighted by a showdown with Notre Dame on Sept. 30. Fortunately, both those games are at home, where Duke was 5-1 in 2022.

Whether it ultimately cashes in on projections will largely depend on how it fares against the rest of the ACC. After Clemson, the Blue Devils will continue conference play on Oct. 14 against NC State, followed by Florida State. We should know by that point if the Blue Devils are legitimate or not.

To Make Playoffs: Don’t Count on It

Duke has never made the College Football Playoff. That’s unlikely to change anytime soon, especially with Clemson and Florida State atop the pecking order in the ACC. Oddsmakers aren’t even considering it. A whole lot would need to go right for the Blue Devils to sneak into the NCAAF playoffs.

For college football betting news, odds, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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