First look: Duke Blue Devils host UNC Tar Heels in Victory Bell battle at Wallace Wade
The last time Duke beat rival North Carolina in football, in November 2018, David Cutcliffe coached the Blue Devils, Daniel Jones was their quarterback and Mack Brown worked for ESPN.
That’s the history UNC will look to continue, and Duke will look to reverse, when the Tar Heels and Blue Devils play Saturday at 4 p.m. at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Despite UNC’s five-game winning streak in the rivalry, and the fact that Jones now quarterbacks the New York Giants, it’s Duke that enters this season’s matchup favored and with momentum.
While the Blue Devils (4-0) have won their first four games for the second consecutive season, UNC (3-1) enters the game after suffering a 70-50 loss at home to James Madison on Saturday that Brown, in the sixth season of his second tenure as their coach, called “embarrassing.”
Betting lines that appeared Sunday showed Duke as the early favorite over UNC.
While UNC’s defense gave up touchdown after touchdown after touchdown to JMU on Saturday, Duke’s defense has allowed just 15.3 points per game and is No. 2 in the ACC having allowed just 259.3 yards per game this season.
Having lost starting quarterback Max Johnson to a broken leg in its season-opening game, UNC is now on its third starting quarterback in Jacolby Criswell. Meanwhile, Duke starting quarterback Maalik Murphy has thrown for 11 touchdowns and completed 64.3% of his passes over the Blue Devils’ first four games.
Everything points toward Duke this time. But history has a way of repeating itself over and over again.
Key matchup
As solid as Duke’s defense has played this season, it’s proved susceptible in the running game at times. Duke’s opponents have gained 3.37 yards per carry, which puts the Blue Devils No. 10 in the ACC.
That’s not good when Duke is tasked with trying to stop UNC running back Omarion Hampton this Saturday. A preseason All-American, Hampton leads the ACC in carries (85) and rushing yards (555) this season. That’s after he was the league’s top rusher last season as well.
Hampton’s per-carry average? A healthy 6.53 yards.
Duke’s defensive front, led by ends Wesley Williams and VJ Anthony with tackles Aaron Hall and Kendry Charles, will need to shed blocks and plug Hampton’s running lanes. They’ll count on linebackers Alex Howard and Tre Freeman to help beyond the line of scrimmage.
Player to watch: WR Jordan Moore
James Madison’s performance against UNC’s defense, or lack thereof, on Saturday is on display for all to see and review. The Dukes stung the Tar Heels for 388 passing yards, with five touchdown throws, while UNC failed to intercept a pass.
Jordan Moore is playing like one of the ACC’s top receivers this season. The senior has 24 catches (tied for No. 3 among ACC players) for 340 yards (fourth-best in the ACC). He’s also caught three touchdown passes.
Murphy loves to throw the ball Moore’s way and, unless UNC’s pass defense improves quickly, he’s likely to be open.
Vegas betting odds
Duke opened as a 3.5-point favorite on Sunday with the over-under total at 52.5 points.
North Carolina at Duke
Teams: North Carolina Tar Heels (3-1) at Duke Blue Devils (4-0)
Where: Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham
Date: Saturday, Sept. 28
Time: 4 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
Stream: DIRECTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, SlingTV