North Carolina vs Duke Prediction, Game Preview

North Carolina vs Duke game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 7 game on Saturday, October 15

North Carolina vs Duke prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 7, Saturday, October 15


North Carolina vs Duke How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 15
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC
How To Watch: ACC Network
Record: North Carolina (5-1), Duke (4-2)
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North Carolina vs Duke Game Preview

Why North Carolina Will Win

The Tar Heels played a little … defense?

No, not really in the 27-24 win over Miami – they gave up 538 yards – but they held firm when they had to. It’s a low bar, but that’s the goal for the Tar Heel D – just hold serve and let the offense do the rest.

Drake Maye continues to be one of the brightest young quarterback stars in the ACC, the running game is chipping in a little to help out, and after all of the drama and all of the close calls and all of the problems on defense, the team is 5-1.

Duke couldn’t get the O going until it was way too late in a puzzling loss to Georgia The. The attack that was so good over the first month fizzled, but the bigger problem here is the lack of a pass rush to help out the secondary.

There’s a big problem when teams don’t get pressure on Maye, but …

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Why Duke Will Win

The North Carolina defense. It really is the cure for offenses that need a pick-me-up.

It’s the worst in the ACC by a mile, the pass defense has issues, and overall it’s allowing 465 yards and 32 points per game.

Duke has enough of a passing attack to take advantage of it all. As long as the offense isn’t turning the ball over – and it doesn’t – it should be able to get its production back.

Keeping the chains moving and keeping Maye and company off the field is a must, but …

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What’s Going To Happen

Duke has the one defense in the ACC that’s worse on third downs than North Carolina.

Duke will get a big day from the offense, but the defensive side that hasn’t dealt with a high-powered attack – Kansas sort of counts, but doesn’t – is about to have a long day.

Both teams got bogged down a wee bit last week. In this the points will flow in a fun back-and-forth rivalry game. North Carolina will get just a bit more out of the attack for a full 60 minutes.

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North Carolina vs Duke Prediction, Line

North Carolina 38, Duke 30
Line: North Carolina -7, o/u: 67
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
North Carolina vs Duke Must See Rating (out of 5): 3
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North Carolina vs Duke Prediction, Game Preview

North Carolina vs Duke prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 2

North Carolina vs Duke prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 2


North Carolina vs Duke How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 2
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
How To Watch: ESPN2
Record: North Carolina (2-2), Duke (3-1)
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North Carolina vs Duke Game Preview


Why Duke Will Win

Can the Blue Devils really get the O going enough to push through an embattled North Carolina D?

Duke has been almost perfectly balanced throughout the first four games – it would’ve and should’ve been 4-0 if it didn’t screw up and give away the opener against Charlotte. There’s a chance the Blue Devils might just have the better offense.

Georgia Tech was all but unstoppable when QB Jeff Sims stepped in and ripped through the Tar Heels in a stunning 45-22 win. Duke has to take charge in the same way, and it has the running game to do it.

North Carolina has a problem with turnovers, and its line isn’t giving Sam Howell any time to work, but it’s that defense that couldn’t get off the field last week that’s the real problem. However …

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Why North Carolina Will Win

Mr. Howell is rolling.

He’s been beaten up and battered, but he has also thrown for close to 1,000 yards in the last three games with ten touchdown passes. The passing game has worked just fine, but can the defense hold serve enough to get by?

The D hasn’t been that awful.

Virginia is bombing away on everyone – the Tar Heels beat the Cavaliers despite giving up 553 passing yards – and Georgia Tech just had a good day. If Howell is on, the Tar Heel passing game will take over.

But …

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What’s Going To Happen

Howell hasn’t actually been all that amazing in his two games against Duke. North Carolina won both of them, but he didn’t bomb away and he had the worst game of his career in the 20-17 win in 2019.

Yeah, Duke is the 3-1 team in this and North Carolina is reeling, but it’s a little misleading. The Blue Devils beat North Carolina A&T, Northwestern, and Kansas – and they couldn’t handle the passing game in the second half of either game.

The North Carolina offense will go off.

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North Carolina vs Duke Prediction, Line

North Carolina 44, Duke 27
Line: North Carolina -19.5, o/u: 72
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 3

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