Blue Devil Country

Governor Bets Against Duke Football While Making Kentucky History

Duke football now has a chance at spoiling the first legal bet in Kentucky.

Matt Giles

Governor Bets Against Duke Football While Making Kentucky History
Governor Bets Against Duke Football While Making Kentucky History /
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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a proponent of legalized sports betting when running for office, placed the first legal sports bet in his state's history on Thursday. Oddly yet not exactly surprisingly (given the number that Duke basketball legend Christian Laettner did on Kentucky fans over 30 years ago), Beshear bet against Duke football.

"Are you ready to accept the first sports bet in Kentucky history?" Beshear asked while standing at the counter at Churchill Downs, shown in the video below, courtesy of Kentucky News Network's Paul Miles. "All right, we're going to do a parlay bet. We're going to go with NCAA Football...

"We're going to go 'over' on wins for the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky and 'under' on wins for Duke University."

Notice how he put a little extra emphasis on the words "under" and "Duke University."

"I like it," the teller said.

Perhaps the 45-year-old governor has Spectrum for a cable provider and, therefore, may have no clue what Mike Elko's second Duke football squad did on ESPN in its season opener on Monday night. 

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Or maybe Beshear, who was born in Louisville but went to high school in Lexington, did tune in but is biasedly banking on Duke's out-of-the-gates success being nothing more than a fluke.

Either way, it might not matter if someone was to educate him on the 2023 Blue Devils, now No. 21 in the AP Top 25 following that 28-7 upset win over reigning ACC champion and then-No. 9 Clemson.

RELATED: Duke Releases Must-See Cinematic Recap of Epic Week 1 Victory

No, the obsession with throwing shade on Duke basketball — and now Duke football, too, it seems — long ago became a Kentucky tradition that may live on forever.

Thanks again to Laettner.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke football and basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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