The upcoming rivalry clash between North Carolina and Duke is poised to be one of the most critical ACC matchups of the weekend. Duke enters the game undefeated at 4-0, while North Carolina seeks to bounce back from a disappointing 70-50 loss to James Madison. The Tar Heels’ offense, led by quarterback Maalik Murphy, has been prolific, averaging 38 points per game and 221.8 rushing yards. However, their defense has struggled, allowing over 29 points per game, a weakness that Duke will look to exploit. Duke’s defense, allowing just 17.5 points per game, will be tested by North Carolina’s offensive weapons. The Blue Devils are coming off a 45-17 win over Middle Tennessee State, where they forced multiple turnovers and controlled the game from start to finish. Duke quarterback Jacolby Criswell has been solid, throwing for 638 yards, while running back Omarion Hampton has provided balance with 356 rushing yards on the season. For North Carolina, the key to winning will be limiting turnovers and getting more out of their defense.

They surrendered 611 yards to James Madison and gave up 223 rushing yards, which has been a recurring issue. The Tar Heels will need to establish their run game early and control the tempo to keep Duke’s balanced offense off the field. Duke, on the other hand, will look to maintain their defensive discipline while capitalizing on any mistakes made by the Tar Heels. Their defense has been strong against the pass, allowing just 127 passing yards in their last game, and they will need to pressure Murphy to disrupt North Carolina’s offensive flow.