Kansas vs. Duke: Preview and Prediction
Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming matchup between the Kansas Jayhawks and Duke Blue Devils.
GAME INFO
Saturday, September 24, 2022; 11:00 a.m. CT; David Booth Memorial Stadium; Lawrence, Kansas
TV: FS1 (Eric Collins, Devin Gardner)
Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network (Brian Hanni, David Lawrence, Brandon McAnderson)
Records: Kansas 3-0 (1-0 Big 12); Duke Blue Devils 3-0 (0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Games: Kansas 48, Houston 30; Duke 49, North Carolina A&T 20
Rankings: Kansas receiving votes (23) in AP Top 25; Duke not ranked
Series History: Duke leads series 2-1
Last Meeting: Duke 52, Kansas 33 (2021)
Favorite: Kansas (-9)
Fun Fact: The last time that Kansas started 3-0 was 2009. The win that got them to 3-0 that season was a 44-16 victory over Duke in Lawrence.
KEY PLAYERS
KANSAS JAYHAWKS
QB Jalon Daniels
In all seriousness, Jalon Daniels should be in the early-season Heisman conversation after how much of an impact that he had for Kansas through the first three game. Daniels leads the country in QBR (97.5) and has accounted for 10 touchdowns. The junior quarterback will be the ring leader for this team in 2022, and where he leads this team will follow.
LB Rich Miller
Rich Miller leads the Jayhawks defense in tackles (27) and is the heart of what KU is doing on that side of the ball. Lonnie Phelps and Craig Young have been the big names for the Kansas defense thus far, but Miller seems to around the ball more often than not. He will be busy again this weekend against Duke and will certainly have his name called time and time again.
DUKE BLUE DEVILS
RB Jaylen Coleman
The Duke offense will need to lean on Coleman in this game and he has had great success early on this season. The junior running back has turned 29 carries into 177 yards (6.1 ypc) and three touchdowns through the first three games. Expect him to play a big role in what the Blue Devils try to do on Saturday.
DB Jaylen Stinson
Junior defensive back Jaylen Stinson has been a pivotal piece for Duke through nonconference play and will continue being so when they take on Kansas Saturday. Stinson is second on the team in tackles with 21, but has also recorded one sack, one PBU, and one forced fumble on the year.
KEY STORYLINES
KANSAS JAYHAWKS
Can Kansas keep things rolling under the leadership of Jalon Daniels? KU has a real chance of getting to 4-0 this week, and if they can do that it just might throw them into the AP Top 25 poll next week before taking on Iowa State. Quarterback play has been the biggest reason for Kansas’ success to this point and that will need to continue on Saturday if they are to keep the good times rolling in Lawrence.
DUKE BLUE DEVILS
How does Duke slow down Jalon Daniels? I’m not sure that the Blue Devils are equipped for a shootout and if it becomes that, I like Kansas big. However, if Mike Elko can draw up a game plan that slows down Daniels and the Jayhawks’ offense, it could be Duke that comes out of this game 4-0 and on the verge of reaching the Top 25.
PREDICTION: KANSAS 41, DUKE 28
I like Kansas to win this game and cover and the biggest reason is obviously the playmaking ability of Jalon Daniels. The other reason is one that many might not be thinking of: home field advantage. Kansas football hasn’t a home crowd like it will see in “the Booth” on Saturday for years, and I think that energizes the Jayhawks and helps get them to a big victory and one step closer to a bowl game.
