We've got the ACC's biggest rivalry-in basketball. In football, Duke (4-2 SU, 3-3 ATS, 1-1 ACC) against North Carolina (5-1, SU, 4-2 ATS, 2-0 ACC) is still a geographical rivalry, since Durham is about 10 miles away from Chapel Hill. These two teams meet from Durham, N.C. on Saturday at 8pmET and will battle for the Victory Bell.
North Carolina is coming off a 27-24 road win over Miami-Fla. as a 4-point dog. The Blue Devils lost a tough overtime game to Georgia Tech on the road, 23-20 as a 3.5-point favorite.
Last season, the Tar Heels took care of Duke 38-7 from Chapel Hill. UNC has won three straight and covered four straight in this rivalry.
North Carolina has had to outscore their opponents over the last couple of seasons because they can't stop anybody. But something happened after an embarrassing 45-32 loss to Notre Dame at home (to a backup QB) on Sept. 24. The Tar Heels beat up on Virginia Tech, 41-10 in their next game on Oct. 1. That might not be considered that impressive due to the fact that the Hokies' offense was pretty moribund, but it was a start.
Gimme that ??#CarolinaFootball ?? #UNCommon pic.twitter.com/ChLWmpc2gx
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) October 11, 2022
On Oct. 8, UNC went traveled to Miami Gardens and edged Miami 27-24. The Heels opened up with a 14-0 lead and a 21-7 lead late in the first half. They never trailed in the game and were able to hold on thanks to freshman Drake Maye's 309 yards passing with two TDs (but two picks) and their impressive run defense. Yes, they allowed 496 passing yards to Tyler Van Dyke but that run defense allowed just 42 yards on 24 carries. For the second game in a row, the Tar Heels' run defense was able to hold an opponent to less than three yards per carry (2.8ypc vs. the Hokies).
The story once again for North Carolina is at quarterback. Last season, it was Sam Howell, and this year, it's Maye, who was recently named to the Maxwell Award Watch list. He has 1,903 yards with 21 TDs and just three picks. Even at 6-4, 220, he has the ability to run (308 yds, 3 TDs).
Offensively, UNC ranks 8th in the nation in yards per game ( 501), and 13th in passing (318ypg). Defensively, the numbers are terrible, especially against the pass (297.5ypg), to rank 124th. They average 42.3 points per game to rank 8th in the nation, but allow 32 points to rank 107th.