CBS Sports Analyst: ‘Don’t Be Surprised if Duke Sends Clemson Home With Shocking Loss’

CBS Sports’ David Cobb thinks there is a decent chance Clemson drops its season opener on the road at Duke.

In his post-spring overreaction, Cobb said Duke head coach Mike Elko should be licking his chops over the idea of facing off against the Tigers’ new offense.

Clemson has won 10 of the last 11 in the series and five in a row by an average of 31 points dating back to 2005. But when the Blue Devils and Tigers square off in Durham, North Carolina, on Monday, Sept. 4, don’t be surprised if Duke sends Clemson home with a shocking loss in the season-opener. Duke finished 9-4 in 2022 during a sensational debut campaign for coach Mike Elko. With quarterback Riley Leonard, oodles of skill talent and anchors on both lines returning, the Blue Devils have all the pieces needed to maintain that trajectory. Plus, it will be Clemson’s first game with a new offensive scheme under first-year offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. A defensive coach like Elko should be licking his chops at the prospect of wreaking havoc on a fledgling unit.

Dabo Swinney has never lost to the Blue Devils. In fact, the Tigers haven’t dropped a game to Duke since way back in 2004, when Tommy Bowden was head coach.