Defensive tests to define A&M-Duke duel

ATLANTA — Dismissing Duke as a mere Chick-fil-A Bowl sacrificial lamb would be so easy.

Yes, the Blue Devils have posted 10 wins, but their most impressive college football victory was over Miami. You know, those Hurricanes that just got blasted by Louisville, 36-9, in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

Four of Duke’s victories were by seven points or less over Troy (38-31), Virginia Tech (13-10), Wake Forest (28-21) and North Carolina (27-25).