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Duke vs. Tulane: Staff predictions
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- Duke vs. Tulane: Staff predictions
Duke vs. Tulane: Staff predictions
While Duke and Tulane faced off last season in New Orleans with the Green Wave pulling out a 34-27 victory, there won't be much familiarity when the two teams take the field on Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Gone are both starting quarterbacks, Duke's Darian Mensah and Tulane's Jake Retzlaff, while the Blue Devils also lost leading wide receiver Cooper Barkate and several playmakers on defense. The Green Wave have a new head coach in Will Hall, who replaced Jon Sumrall after he left for Florida.
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But who will pull out the win? Our staff makes their predictions.
Zach Ciavolella
Both of these teams have seen significant change this offseason, but the Blue Devils managed to keep more top-end talent and are set up for potential sophomore breakout seasons from Nate Sheppard and Bryce Davis. New signal-caller Walker Eget also comes in as an experienced option under center with legitimate arm talent. Perhaps most reassuring of all is the steadying presence of head coach Manny Diaz, who has led the Blue Devils to exceed expectations in each of his two seasons as head coach.
Duke 27, Tulane 20
Sam Prestipino
The Blue Devils get revenge on the Green Wave for last year's loss in New Orleans. Duke's rushing attack, led by Nate Sheppard, will be too much for Tulane to handle, and the defense will shut down and take care of business. The Blue Devil passing game will certainly have growing pains, but new QB Walker Eget will do enough to lead Duke to a season-opening win.
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Duke 20, Tulane 14
Brian Stultz
So many question marks for both teams entering this one, but you have to go with who has the best player (Duke's Nate Sheppard) and the same head coach (Duke's Manny Diaz). Tulane replaced Jon Sumrall with Will Hall, who went 14-30 in three years at his last stop, Southern Miss.
Walker Eget will get into some rhythm in the second half, but it will be Sheppard and the Duke rushing attack that gets the job done.
Duke 23, Tulane 13
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This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke vs. Tulane: Staff predictions
