Who has the edge?
When UNC has the ball
Something has to give here: UNC’s offense leads the ACC and ranks third in the country, at 7.5 yards per play. Duke’s defense ranks second in the ACC and fifth in the country, at 4.2 yards play.
UNC quarterback Marquise Williams should be able to find room against Duke’s secondary. The Blue Devils struggled with Virginia Tech’s Michael Brewer (270 passing yards, three touchdowns) and Miami backup Malik Rosier (272 yards, two touchdowns).
Williams has completed 71 percent (49 of 69) of his passes in the past three games for an average of 259.3 yards per game.
The key for UNC might be how much running back Elijah Hood can get going. The Tar Heels have wisely started to feed Hood more (41 carries in the past two games) after leaving him on ice (20 carries in the previous two games).
Edge: UNC
When Duke has the ball
UNC’s defense is a classic example of “Keep it simple, stupid.” First-year coordinator Gene Chizik has brought, first and foremost, some order and clarity to the scheme. The Tar Heels know what they’re doing, which wasn’t always the case last year, and they’re playing with a purpose.
The total defense numbers are down to 358 yards per game, from 497.8 last year, and the scoring defense is a world better at 17 points per game, from 39 last year.
For Duke, junior quarterback Thomas Sirk has gotten better in ACC play, which you might not expect from a first-time starter. He has been poised in late-game situations and gave his team a chance to win in each of the past two weeks.
Sirk has started to take more chances downfield, which has led to more from Max McCaffrey (15 catches, 184 yards, two touchdowns) the past two weeks.
The improved health of running back Jela Duncan, who missed the first three games with a shoulder injury, has also boosted the offense.
Edge: Duke
Special teams
Overlooked in UNC’s dramatic improvement on defense are the strides in the kicking game. UNC didn’t make a single field goal longer than 40 yards last year (and only attempted three) and went 6 of 13 between Nick Weiler and Thomas Moore.
Weiler has already made 14 of 16 field goals this year, including four from 40-plus yards.
Junior receiver Ryan Switzer ranks fifth in the ACC with 12.5 yards per punt and has a return for a touchdown.
Duke safety DeVon Edwards leads the ACC with 32.6 yards per kickoff return, and he has two returns for a touchdown this season.
Senior kicker Ross Martin, has struggled in the past two games, but he has made 16 of 19 field goals on the season and 68 of 82 for his career.
Edge: Even
Intangibles
Duke should be breathing fire after the way the Miami game ended, and the ACC’s subsequent admission of errors by the officials. The Blue Devils should also be smarting from last year’s 45-20 embarrassment at home.
On the other hand, the Tar Heels have won seven straight and should be confident they are capable of repeating last year’s thrashing.
Edge: Even
Players to watch
Marquise Williams, QB, UNC
The fifth-year senior tore up Duke’s defense last year, with 278 passing yards, 98 rushing yards and four total touchdowns.
Williams, who has 1,623 passing yards and 528 rushing yards on the season, is hitting his stride at the right time for UNC’s offense as it enters the toughest stretch of its schedule.
Jeremy Cash, S, Duke
The senior safety makes plays everywhere for Duke’s defense, especially behind the line of scrimmage. Cash has 15.5 tackles for loss, which ranks fifth in the country and has forced three fumbles. Cash was relatively quiet in last year’s loss in Durham with seven tackles.
Joe Giglio
This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 5:56 PM with the headline "Who has the edge?."