Tudor's take
How much can one defensive unit possibly do?
The Tar Heels (6-3, 2-3 ACC) have been remarkable with the exception of the second half against Florida State. But Miami (7-2, 4-2) probably has the best run/pass balance that Carolina has faced all season. And oh yes, the Canes have a better defensive unit than the Seminoles.
So unless UNC quarterback T.J. Yates can spin a 180, the lifting will be too heavy even for his team's defense. Hurricanes, 21-13.
Connected programs
UNC coach Butch Davis was the head coach at Miami from 1995 to 2000 and a defensive assistant there from 1984 to 1988. Current Miami coach Randy Shannon played for Davis at Miami and with the Dallas Cowboys.
Miami defensive coordinator John Lovett was on Davis' UNC staff for two seasons (2007 and '08).
Home finale
UNC is 7-4 in home ACC games under Davis, but only 1-2 this season going into Saturday's home finale. The game also marks the final home date for the program's 11 seniors.
Player to watch
T.J. Yates
UNC, Jr., QB, 6-3, 220
While Ryan Houston was carrying UNC's offense on the ground, Yates was struggling against Duke, missing open receivers and throwing for only 119 yards. He needs to make plays today and not just avoid mistakes.
By the numbers
Miami | UNC | |
32.3 | scoring | 22.3 |
23.2 | scoring def. | 15.3 |
136.6 | avg. rush yds. | 141.7 |
122.9 | opp. avg. rush yds. | 91.7 |
265.4 | avg. pass yds. | 152.7 |
204.7 | opp. avg. pass yds. | 157.8 |
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Forget about Duke's comeback win over North Carolina. The evidence from this season suggests that the Blue Devils' biggest test of the week will come today when Maryland comes to Cameron Indoor Stadium. 
East Chapel Hill sophomore Ben Griffin was about 13 years old when he challenged a group of then-current and former University of North Carolina golfers. 
Robert Orr, a Raleigh attorney who represented UNC football players Quinton Coples and Devon Ramsay during the school's recent NCAA-related problems, said Friday that the firing of Butch Davis and hiring of Larry Fedora as head football coach would not fundamentally change the chances of similar issues cropping up at the school. 
Rameses, North Carolina's 18th ram mascot, died Thursday night of natural causes. He was 8 years old. 
Hours after the Smith Center emptied and the cameras left, long after he and his North Carolina teammates went their separate ways, Tar Heels point guard Kendall Marshall lay awake in the early hours of Thursday morning with certain parts of Duke's 85-84 victory against UNC playing on a loop in his mind. 
Remember when ACC teams began conference play about a month ago, and how it seemed like the road to the regular-season championship would be limited to a two-team race between North Carolina and Duke? 
While there will be bonus time to draw up a game plan for Thursday's trip to Duke, the break also comes at a good time for C.J. Williams. 
North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall said that Tar Heels coach Roy Williams has implemented a new rule for his team. 
For 39 minutes Wednesday night, almost everything broke Tyler Zeller's way. But at game's end, Zeller had the most miserable single minute of his athletic career. Keep up with the latest sports stories with our free e-mail newsletters, delivered to your inbox!
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