Kansas Jayhawks vs Duke Blue Devils Quicklook
Welcome back Jayhawk fans! It’s your weekly Kansas Jayhawks vs Duke Blue Devils Quicklook! If you think this going to be an article full of basketball puns…I promise…only a few. There has not been this much excitement for a KU vs Duke matchup on the football field since…well, ever. As our local basketball hero Christian Braun said:
KU fans haven’t seen a L since like February 🥲
— Christian Braun (@Ballin25Braun) September 18, 2022
After a thriller in the rain in Houston, the Jayhawks welcome Duke to Booth Memorial stadium this Saturday. Both teams are 3-0, both teams have explosive offenses and stingy defenses, and both teams have relatively new head coaches. Without further ado…your Kansas Jayhawks vs Duke Blue Devils Quicklook!
Series History
While the basketball teams for both schools have played 13 times, the football teams have only met 3 times. Duke holds a 2-1 record vs the Jayhawks, winning last year and in 2014. KU beat Duke in 2009 under Mark Mangino.
While the basketball teams finished #1 and #3 in the final poll last season…neither football team is ranked this year, even though both are 3-0. Duke has beaten Temple, Northwestern, and North Carolina A&T, while KU has knocked off Tennessee Tech, West Virginia, and Houston.
Odds
Kansas began as a 7.5 pt favorite, probably due to their tougher schedule and that the game is going to be played in Lawrence. KU has already sold out the game, so expect 50,000+ loud KU fans at The Booth. The over/under has been set at 66.5. KU has almost single-handedly beat the O/U on their own in all three games…so a smart bettor would take the Jayhawks to win outright (at +230) and the over. Bettors are beginning to understand KU better…92% of all bets last week on KU took the over vs Houston.
There are no real high-profile injuries on either side, though Duke starting LB Dorian Mausi did not play last week due to a lower body injury.
Weather at The Booth is projected to be sunny and clear with a high in 70s. You couldn’t ask for more perfect fall weather in Kansas.
There hasn’t been this much excitement for a KU home game in over a decade.
Jayhawk Outlook
Jalon Daniels is blowing up. He was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week last week after the win over Houston. He has been named to several award watch lists. It is really awesome to watch a quiet and humble player achieve recognition and success. For the Jayhawks to keep winning, Daniels will have to manage the media attention in a way he has never thought of before.
“The most exciting part is being able to see the excitement my teammates have. I’ve been here since my freshman year and we didn’t start off too hot my freshman year. So, being able to see that excitement with those guys that I came with – especially the guys who were here before us. We love it.” – Jalon Daniels
Absolutely Blessed! Couldn’t Have Done It Without My Bruthas💯🖤#RCJH https://t.co/rmyyEaRH8f
— 𝕁𝔻𝟞💫 (@JalonDaniels6) September 19, 2022
The KU Football twitter page added 10,000 new followers this week. Media requests have doubled. I don’t think anyone in Lawrence questions Andy Kotelnicki’s play calling or Lance Leipold’s leadership, but are the Jayhawks prepared for success after spending so much time in the basement of the Big 12?
Lawrence Arnold and Luke Grimm have emerged as Daniels’ favorite targets in the Jayhawks RPO and play action-heavy offense. Both have 10 catches through 3 games…though Quentin Skinner is definitely the big play guy. Mason Fairchild’s edge blocking has been excellent and he is a reliable red zone target when the Jayhawks feel like throwing the ball.
On Defense, Kansas has been led by Kenny Logan Jr and Rich Miller. Both seem to be in on every tackle. Emerging as real playmakers over the last 3 weeks are Craig Young and Lonnie Phelps. Both were added through the transfer portal (Young from Ohio State and Phelps from Miami OH) and both immediately added production to a good defense.
Brian Borland, the Jayhawk Defensive Coordinator, has shown a lot of different pressure looks, with 7 different Jayhawk defenders getting sacks.
Coach Leipold on the Jayhawk culture:
“You can see how proud everybody is. We see things start to swing our way and we are handling it on both sides even when things were not going our way. I saw the resilience of this team. I am proud of these guys, and we have a lot of season left to be played. I am really excited for these guys and the games at home. I hope fans will come and check these guys out because we are playing well.”
Watch Details
Eric Collins (play-by-play) and Devin Gardner (analyst) are on the call for FS1’s TV broadcast of the KU game.
When: 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 24
Where: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence
TV: FS1
Prediction
In July, I predicted in our preseason assessment a KU win:
The Jayhawks welcome Duke to Lawrence in week four and America braces for the Basketball jokes that will be made at the KU football teams expense. Duke beat Kansas pretty handily last year, but this year is a different story. Jayhawks win 55-21. Jayhawks 3-1.
I predicted a KU loss last week…silly me. I am 2-1 vs the spread and 2-1 overall.
Can’t mention Duke in an article without mentioning a great American and former Duke Lacrosse player who was killed in Iraq in 2007…Jimmy Regan. A member of the third Ranger Battalion, Regan turned down many opportunities after he graduated from Duke to serve with the Rangers. He lost his life when his vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device. Tip a beer to Jimmy at your tailgate Jayhawk Fans.
It’s an exciting time to be a Jayhawk fan! There it is…your weekly Kansas Jayhawks vs Duke Blue Devils quicklook.
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