FOXBOROUGH, Mass. --- The game everyone thinks is going to be blowout will actually be close.

Real close.

There. Finally said it publicly. Against all conventional wisdom.

Hopkins is going to give Duke a run. And that's not an opinion based on history, but rather what the Blue Jays have the potential to do today.

The Hop can win faceoffs. It can shorten the game with absurdly long possessions. It can make Duke impatient. And it has both Paul Rabil and Stephen Peyser, who are dangerous quantities in the midfield.

There's three things Hopkins absolutely cannot afford to do:

* Not collect better than 55 percent (and preferably 60 percent) of the faceoffs.

* Commit a boatload of turnovers.

* Not get a standout game from goalie Michael Gvozden.

Gvozden and Peyser are the keys to the game. If Gvozden can hold up to the Duke blitz, the Blue Jays will be able to stay close. And if that can happen, things would be interesting.

It's still safe to say Duke will win --- the call is 12-10 --- but don't be surprised if Hopkins pulls the upset.

--- Patrick Stevens