North Carolina Tar Heels vs
Duke Blue DevilsPredictions & Preview

Duke Blue Devils Favored in Highly Anticipated Rivalry Matchup Against North Carolina Tar Heels

In a highly anticipated matchup, the Duke Blue Devils will face off against the North Carolina Tar Heels in a classic North Carolina rivalry game on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. EST at Wallace Wade Stadium. Despite UNC's 3-1 record and Duke's 4-0 start to the season, both teams have yet to play a game in their conference. Duke is currently favored by 2.5 points, with the total points set at 56. The opening line favored North Carolina by 3.5 points, but has since shifted in Duke's favor. This game is sure to be a competitive and exciting match-up between these two college football powerhouses.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Tar Heels +121 | Blue Devils -140
• Spread: Tar Heels +2.5 (-110) | Blue Devils -2.5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 56 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that North Carolina will win straight-up is 55%.

North Carolina vs Duke Stats

North Carolina Tar Heels

The North Carolina Tar Heels suffered a tough 70-50 loss to James Madison last week, with Jacolby Criswell leading the offense with 475 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Omarion Hampton had a standout performance in the rushing attack with 139 yards and three touchdowns, while Kobe Paysour led in receiving yards with 93. On defense, Antavious Lane recorded six tackles and one assist, with Beau Atkinson and Kevin Hester Jr. each contributing a sack. The Tar Heels have had some key players sidelined due to injury, including kicker Noah Burnette and DE Kaimon Rucker. Despite a strong offensive performance, North Carolina holds a power ranking of 77, ranking 45th in offense and 41st in defense, with a 3-1 record for the season.

Duke Blue Devils Analysis

In their most recent game, Duke achieved a decisive 45-17 victory over Middle Tennessee. Maalik Murphy and Star Thomas stood out with impressive performances on offense, while Alex Howard led the defense with a strong showing. Murphy leads the team in passing, Star Thomas leads in rushing, and Jordan Moore leads in receiving. The Blue Devils have minimal injuries to report. Currently, they have a power ranking of 59 and rank #89 for offense and #38 for defense, averaging 26.00 points scored and 14.67 points allowed per game, respectively. Duke is currently undefeated at 4-0 overall. In recent matchups against North Carolina, Duke has had the upper hand with North Carolina going 0-3.

Duke University Favored in Upcoming Match Against Struggling UNC Football Team

The University of North Carolina (UNC) has struggled to cover the spread in nine of their last ten games, with a record of 1-8-1 during this span. On the other hand, Duke University has successfully covered the spread in their past two meetings and is entering this upcoming matchup with a healthier roster. Duke has maintained an undefeated streak since November 18th, 2023, instilling confidence that they will perform well in this game. Furthermore, Duke has not suffered a home defeat in nearly a year, indicating their strength in home games and suggesting they are likely to continue this trend against UNC, one of their primary rivals.

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