Duke Football 2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks, Odds | Sportsbookbuzz.com

Duke Football 2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks, Odds

As the 2011 NCAA Football Season approaches, we are providing season previews for every college football teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best College Football Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2011 season preview. Be sure to bookmark SportsbookBuzz.com your source for Sportsbook Reviews. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the College Football in our recommend sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2011 NCAA Football Season Previews here.

2010 Record: 3-9 ACC Record: 1-7 (T-5th, Coastal) 2011 Returning Starters: 16; 8 offense, 6 defense, punter. kicker

Coach: David Cutcliffe, 12-24 (3 years)

Offensive Coordinators: Matt Luke, Kurt Roper Defensive Coordinators: Jim Collins, Jim Knowles

2011 Duke Players to Watch: QB Sean Renfree, WR Donovan Yamer, WR Conner Yemon, RB Desmond Scott, S Matt Daniels, LB Kelby Brown, K Will Snyderwine.

2011 Duke Strengths:
The Blue Devils return all of the main playmakers from an offense that averaged 25.3 points per game. Duke also has a weapon in Snyderwine. A first-team All-America pick by the American Football Coaches Association. Snyderwlne made 21 of 24 field goals, including a52-yarder.

2011 Duke Weaknesses:
While Duke improved tts running game from 2009 (when the Blue Devils were last in the country in rushing), that part of the offense remains in need of a big-play threat Renfree threw 17 interceptions last season and Duke can’t afford a repeat of that number. On defense, new coordinator Jim Knowles has to fix problems with the pass rush.

2011 Duke Offense:

Duke’s passing offense, as you would expect under coach David Cutcliffe, has developed into one of the best in the ACC. Running the ball and turning the passing yards into points have been more problematic for the Blue Devils, who are coming off a 3–9 season. Cutcliffe, a noted quarterback guru who tutored Peyton and Eli Manning in college, is turning to his quarterbacks for answers. In addition to junior Sean Renfree, the only returning quarterback in the ACC who threw for 3,000 yards, Cutcliffe has opened up the playbook for sophomore Brandon Connette, who led the team with eight rushing touchdowns, and redshirt freshman Anthony Boone. There are five running backs on the depth chart with experience, but the Devils averaged only 110 yards per game last season, a marked improvement from the previous season but still 104th nationally. Desmond Scott, Josh Snead and Juwan Thompson are all expected to improve Duke’s ground game, which will be aided by the return of three starting linemen. The receiving corps is Duke’s strength, with the return of slot receivers Conner Vernon, who led the ACC with 73 catches, and Donovan Varner, who added 60. Sophomore Brandon Braxton will be used to stretch the field. Tight end Cooper Helfet was a surprise addition from the junior college ranks who came on at the end of the 2010 season.

2011 Duke Defense:

The Blue Devils started last season in a 4-3 scheme but tried just about every combination. Nothing worked. Duke ranked last in the ACC in total defense (450.1 ypg) and next-to-last in scoring defense (35.4 ppg). Jim Knowles steps in as the coordinator after sharing the position last season and is going to a 4-2-5 alignment. For the second straight year, the defensive front is Duke’s biggest area of concern. Nose tackle Charlie Hatcher is the only senior of the unit, which has seen the most turnover in Cutcliffe’s tenure. Sophomore linebacker Kelby Brown missed spring practice while recovering from knee surgery, but he will good to go in the fall. An instinctive player, Brown had 63 tackles while starting seven games as a freshman. In the secondary, The Devils have a solid safety in Matt Daniels and an intriguing prospect in Isaac Blakeney, who might be the country’s tallest defensive back at 6’6″.

2011 Duke Special Teams:

Will Snyderwine set a Duke record with 21 field goals last season, and he hasn’t missed an extra point in his college career. Punter Alex King was effective last season as well with a 41.1-yard average.

2011 Duke Football Schedule | Duke Football Sportsbooks

2011 Duke Predictions:

The Blue Devils can throw the ball with anyone in the ACC, and Cutcliffe can X-and-O with the best. The problems, in Cutcliffe’s fourth season, are largely still the same from his first season a relative lack of talent compared to the rest of the league and a dearth of athleticism on defense. If Duke can complement the passing game and Renfree should be even better a year removed from major knee surgery then the Blue Devils might be able to scrap back to the five-win level that Cutcliffe achieved in ’09. But with the defense still a step behind the offense, the program’s first bowl bid in 17 years will have to wait.

2011 Duke Betting Odds:

Duke Current odds to win a National Championship: +5000

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