Dec 7, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Anthony Boone (7) passes the ball as offensive tackle Takoby Cofield (73) blocks in the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
UPDATE (1:06pm): It is official: Duke is going to the Chick-Fil-A bowl, where they’ll face either the Georgia Bulldogs or Texas A&M Aggies.
source confirms #Duke to the Chick-fil-A bowl in Atlanta on the 31st. I've learned much about bowl politics today
— Laura Keeley (@laurakeeley) December 8, 2013
UPDATE (12:58pm): Now it looks like Duke is going to the Chick-Fil-A Bowl:
Hearing that #Duke will be playing in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on New Year's Eve: http://t.co/DPCWrekUuI
— Adam Rowe? (@AdamRoweTDD) December 8, 2013
UPDATE (12:15pm): Keeley has now reported that there is still a chance Duke may go to the Chick-Fil-A Bowl:
According to Charlotte Observer’s Laura Keeley, the Duke Blue Devils (10-3) will be facing Louisville (11-1) in the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando, FL:
Some info from the bowl’s official site:
"The 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl will take place on Saturday, Dec. 28th at 6:45 p.m. ET. The game will air nationally on ESPN. This year’s games will be the final bowl games played in the current Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium as a near complete reconstruction will begin in February 2014.Now in its second year with a new title sponsor, the Russell Athletic Bowl will pair upper-tier teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the newly-formed American Athletic Conference (formerly the Big East). The 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl features the second post-BCS selection from the ACC and the first post-BCS pick in the newly-formed American Athletic Conference.…Russell Athletic Bowl tickets can be purchased for as little as $30 ($30-92) and Uprights Club seats at $203. Tickets go on sale to the general public September 3, but tickets to both Orlando Bowl Week games are available by purchasing a 2013-14 Florida Citrus Sports Membership."
With the announcement that Duke has been switched to the Chick-Fil-A bowl, the following is now pointless:
For Duke, it will be the second straight game where they’ll have to face an elite quarterback, with Teddy Bridgewater being every bit as dangerous as Florida State’s Jameis Winston, who just went off for 389 total yards and four touchdowns in the ACC Championship Game.
Louisville, meanwhile, has to be disappointed heading into the game, as they had dreams of a national championship before UCF handed them a devastating 38-35 loss on October 18th.
There is no telling how much the loss affected the psyche of the team, but they looked thoroughly unimpressive down the stretch, just getting by Houston, Memphis, and Cincinnati to close out the year.