As a USC alum, their boards were flooded with guys rooting for losses, to get rid of Kiffin. Two seasons ago as a Dolphin fan I was on board for Suck for Luck.
In this case, no chance. I've never rooted for the Canes to lose. I was on Duke's campus two weeks ago, on the afternoon of the North Carolina game. I saw all the smug faces, looking at my Canes shirt and visor. I know **** well how that campus and fan base would react, if the Canes blow this one. Do you really want to allow that? There will be blow back at the Cameron basketball game and other events.
I'm not ultra confident about this game but at least it's a considerably more favorable situational spot than the Virginia Tech game. Look at how the expectations have changed. Two weeks ago Virginia Tech was -13.5 hosting Duke. A week later we were -7 for much of the week, hosting Virginia Tech. Now this week we are only -3 at Duke. It's a shift of more than a touchdown from where it would have been two weeks ago. That type of adjustment normally plays back toward the initial impressions. It's the theme of buying when everyone else is selling, and the selling when everyone else is buying.
Besides, this time we are on the road coming off a loss as favorite. That's a favorable spot, unlike a week ago. Our preparation and intensity level should be very good. It will look like a different team to open the game, in terms of energy.
Unfortunately, the loss of Duke Johnson changes our personality, and lessens the dependability. I would definitely bet Miami in this game if Duke Johnson were healthy. Without him, it's a coin flip. We might not run the ball often enough to soften them up. Even if we are focused and determined, there are simply too many frailties. For one thing, in the offseason I hope I never hear about UTough again on this board. What a joke. Watch our defense and show me where we benefit from a band aid like UTough. Find naturally huge and powerful guys who hit all day.
