Free NCAAF Pick: Duke Blue Devils vs Northwestern Wildcats, 9–8–2018
Free College Football Pick by Documented Handicappers

Duke Blue Devils vs Northwestern Wildcats
Odds: Northwestern -3, 49
Time: 12:00 pm EST
Date: Saturday, September 8th, 2018
The Northwestern Wildcats picked up a nice opening weekend win on the road at Purdue and this weekend they welcome the Duke Blue Devils to Ryan Field. Duke enters this contest off a 34–14 home win over Army, while the Wildcats are off a 31–27 road win over Purdue. Opening odds list the Wildcats as -3 point home favorites.
Duke finished off the 2017 season (7–6) and a 36–14 win over Northern Illinois in the Quick Lane Bowl. The Blue Devils return 15 starters from 2017. Last season the Blue Devils averaged 26.5 PPG on offense. This year, they have seven starters back from that group, including QB Daniel Jones. Jones threw for 197 yards and a TD in the win over Army. Duke had a rough stretch last season losing six-straight during the crux of their season but finished with three-straight wins.

Duke 2–5 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Northwestern finished 2017 with a (10–3) record and they appear poised to pick up where they left off last season. The Wildcats picked up a solid road victory in their season opener at Purdue behind RB Jeremy Larkin who rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns in his debut as the feature back for the Wildcats. One area of concern is the Wildcats defense, which has been the staple for years. Northwestern allowed 27 points in Week 1 and head coach Pat Fitzgerald could not be happy. Purdue does not have a good ground game, but they ran for 202 yards and at 8.1 yards per carry against this defense.
Wildcats are 3–7 ATS in their last 10 non-conference games.
Duke beat up on Northwestern last season in Week 2, 41–17 in Durham. Both teams will rely on their run game and I expect the Wildcats offense to grind out the Duke defense. Northwestern has a lot to clean up after Week 1 but we will give them a pass on certain aspects, from a defensive standpoint, playing on the road in Week 1. Northwestern is 7–1 ATS in their last eight home games as a favorite and this trend should continue. Northwestern has a revenge angle after last seasons drubbing and while this should be a close game, the Wildcats win by 4 to cover the spread at home.


