Duke @ North Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2010 ) North Carolina 24, Duke 19

THE STORY: It’s not exactly an NCAA Tournament Game or the ACC Championship basketball game, but anytime North Carolina and Duke face off the rivalry is intense. On the football field, the two schools wage an annual battle for the Victory Bell. North Carolina has dominated the series over the last two decades, taking 20 of the last 21 meetings. The Tar Heels nearly knocked off ACC Coastal Division leader Virginia Tech last week but fell for the fourth time in the last five games after a final drive comeback attempt came up short. The Blue Devils have dropped six straight while allowing an average of over 30 points. But Duke has challenged a few teams lately, coming within one score in losses to Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech over the last six games.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ESPN3, ACC Regional Network. LINE: North Carolina -12.5

ABOUT DUKE (3-8, 1-6 ACC): If the Blue Devils can find a way to pull off the upset on Saturday, they would finish in fifth place in the Coastal Division, sliding North Carolina into last on the head-to-head tiebreaker. Duke quarterback Sean Renfree matched a career high with four touchdowns against Georgia Tech last week but was intercepted with 2:20 left as the Blue Devils were driving for a potential tying score in the 38-31 setback.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (6-5, 2-5): The Tar Heels have dealt with a great deal of adversity this season in the form of a new coaching staff and an NCAA investigation. North Carolina looked terrible in a 13-0 loss at North Carolina State on Nov. 5 but did not give up against the Hokies. The Tar Heels fell behind, 24-7, before rallying in fourth quarter with a pair of touchdowns and falling just short, 24-21.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. North Carolina has a 1,000 yard receiver (Dwight Jones, 1,018) and 1,000 yard rusher (Giovani Bernard 1, 057) in the same season for the first time in school history.

2. Bernard left last week’s game with a mild concussion and is uncertain for Saturday.

3. Renfree has three 300-yard passing days this season.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 28, Duke 14. The Tar Heels make it 21 of 22 as Renfree throws at least one interception for the seventh consecutive game.