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Miami Football: 2017 Game-by-game predictions

By Jerran Anderson

CORAL GABLES, FL - NOVEMBER 10: A view from inside the stadium prior to the last college football game played in the Orange Bowl as the Virginia Cavaliers take on the Miami Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl November 10, 2007 in Coral Gables, Florida. The University of Miami, which has played in the Orange Bowl since 1937, will be playing at Dolphin Stadium beginning next season. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
CORAL GABLES, FL - NOVEMBER 10: A view from inside the stadium prior to the last college football game played in the Orange Bowl as the Virginia Cavaliers take on the Miami Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl November 10, 2007 in Coral Gables, Florida. The University of Miami, which has played in the Orange Bowl since 1937, will be playing at Dolphin Stadium beginning next season. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images /

The Duke Blue Devils enter the 2017 season in an interesting time. They went 4-8 in head coach David Cutcliffe’s ninth season. After qualifying for a bowl game in three straight seasons, things changed for them after losing starting quarterback Thomas Sirk in Week One.

Sirk has since transferred to East Carolina, clearing the way for quarterback Daniel Jones to keep the starting job this season. Jones threw for 2,836 passing, 16 passing touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for 486 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

It’ll be difficult to run and pass freely against the Miami Hurricanes but Duke will certainly ride Jones’ talent for much of the season. Next to Jones, running back Shaun Wilson will be featured out of the backfield with three returning starters on the offensive line.

Next season could be a work in-progress for the Blue Devils. The Hurricanes should be finding their groove entering the tougher part of their conference slate.

The Duke defense will have three new starters on the defensive line as well as a rebuilt secondary. Both are a formula that favors Miami’s ascent back to the top of the ACC. Either way, the Hurricanes should lean heavily on the legs of Mark Walton. Walton rushed for 1,117 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns a season ago. Look for his Duke performance to put other teams on notice on what he’s capable of.

Final: Duke 24, Miami 35 (4-1, 1-1 ACC)

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