After a 3-9 season last year and having not had a winning season since 2018, Duke was not expected to be this good. Making a bowl game was likely a program goal, but the Blue Devils’ season wins total was set at 3.5 by most of the top NC online sportsbooks. Getting to six wins was expected to be a challenge.
Duke outdid any and all expectations by not only qualifying for a bowl game but winning eight games and qualifying for a decent bowl game in the Military Bowl. The Blue Devils will play on Dec. 28 against the University of Central Florida Knights at 2 p.m. ET, adding to a short history of playing in the postseason.
Duke VS. UCF Betting Odds
The Knights had a solid season, which has come to be expected in Orlando. UCF had some impressive wins, while there were also a few puzzling losses, on its way to a 9-4 record.
College football bowl game odds in NC have Duke favored by 3 points in the Military Bowl, with a point total of 62.5 at most online sportsbooks. With a lot of offensive potential, this has all the makings of an exciting Bowl Game.
| SportsBook | Point Spread | Moneyline | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings North Carolina Sportsbook | Duke -3 (-110) UCF +3 (-110) | Duke (-155) UCF (+135) | Over 62.5 (-105) Under 62.5 (-115) |
| Caesars North Carolina Sportsbook | Duke -3 (-110) UCF +3 (-110) | Duke (-161) UCF (+135) | Over 62.5 (-110) Under 62.5 (-110) |
| FanDuel North Carolina Sportsbook | Duke -3 (-110) UCF +3 (-110) | Duke (-154) UCF (+128) | Over 62.5 (-110) Under 62.5 (-110) |
| BetMGM North Carolina Sportsbook | Duke -3 (-110) UCF +3 (-110) | Duke (-155) UCF (+130) | Over 62.5 (-110) Under 62.5 (-110) |
Point Spread
Pretty much every sportsbook has Duke as a three-point point spread favorite with minimal variation. The odds are -110 for both the Blue Devils and the Knights. The only noticeable variation is at PointsBet Sportsbook, where the line is still three in favor of Duke, the juice is heavier on Duke’s side at -115. To bet UCF at +3, you only need to lay -105.
Moneyline
The moneyline is solid value on either side, with Duke not being worse than -161 odds, even as a three-point favorite. The best value for UCF bettors is +135 at DraftKings Sportsbook, Caesars NC Sportsbook, and PointsBet. Remember, this line could remain in flux as both teams have players in the transfer portal skipping the bowl game and injury concerns at critical positions.
Total Points
With the over/under set at 62.5, oddsmakers anticipate a shootout between the Knights and Blue Devils. The best value for the Over is at -105 at DraftKings. At the same time, the best value for the Under is -110 at multiple sportsbooks. Duke and UCF average 33.1 and 34.1 points per game, respectively. Their defenses both allow at least 22 points per game. It is safe to say plenty of points will be scored, but 62.5 is a high total.
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Duke Bowl Game History
Duke has played in 14 bowl games in program history, and the Blue Devils have an all-time bowl game record of 6-8.
| Season Year | Bowl Game | Result | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Orange Bowl | L 21–48 | Oklahoma |
| 1960 | Cotton Bowl | W 7–6 | Arkansas |
| 1989 | All-American Bowl | L 21–49 | Texas Tech |
| 1994 | Hall of Fame Bowl | L 20–34 | Wisconsin |
| 2012 | Belk Bowl | L 34–48 | Cincinnati |
| 2013 | Chick-fil-A Bowl | L 48–52 | Texas A&M |
| 2014 | Sun Bowl | L 31–36 | Arizona State |
| 2015 | Pinstripe Bowl | W 44–41OT | Indiana |
| 2017 | Quick Lane Bowl | W 36–14 | Northern Illinois |
| 2018 | Independence Bowl | W 56–27 | Temple |
Blue Devil Bowl Game Fun Facts
- Duke is 4-6 in its last 10 bowl games.
- This will be Duke’s first bowl game appearance under head coach Mike Elko, who was recently named ACC Coach of the Year.
- The Military Bowl has a history going back to 2008 when it was first played under the name EagleBank Bowl. It was the EagleBank Bowl for two years before being rebranded the Military bowl in 2010. The Miltary bowl has not been played since 2019, as it was canceled the last two seasons.
- Neither Duke nor UCF has played in the Military Bowl.
The most exciting bowl game in Duke history has to be the 2015 Pinstripe Bowl. The Blue Devils defeated Indiana in overtime 44-41. The game had more than 1,200 yards of total offense, with Duke rushing for an incredible 382 yards.
The most prominent Bowl win in program history was the Blue Devils’ 7-6 win over Arkansas in the 1961 Cotton Bowl. Duke finished the year 7-3 and was ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press poll.
AP Photo/Seth Wenig
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