North Carolina at Duke
Kickoff 10/17/2026, 2:30:00 PM CDT · Wallace Wade Stadium
ACC / ACC · Week 7
Article published 10/13/2026, 12:09:33 PM CDT · last material update 10/13/2026, 12:09:33 PM CDT
North Carolina
13.2PROJECTION
Duke
35.9Model projections are estimates. Forecast timestamp 10/11/2026, 2:14:44 PM CDT · feature-data cutoff 10/11/2026, 2:14:44 PM CDT. Verified stored season-to-date statistics; descriptive comparisons are separate from the original scoring-model feature window. Comparison snapshot 10/13/2026, 12:09:33 PM CDT.
Official betting selection
Awaiting Odds
The model projection is available, but no eligible verified sportsbook offer has produced a locked official selection.
Team statistics & league rankings
Season-to-date comparison · ranks use covered teams within College Football · #1 is best for each metric.
| Metric | North Carolina | Duke |
|---|---|---|
| Points / game | 23.4#100 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 34.0#48 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Points allowed / game | 19.0#34 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 14.4#13 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Total yards / game | 330.4#115 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 456.6#28 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Yards allowed / game | 356.2#79 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 286.0#19 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Passing yards / game | 218.0#81 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 230.0#70 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Rushing yards / game | 112.4#123 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 226.6#16 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Yards / play | 5.88#73 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 6.47#36 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Yards allowed / play | 4.91#37 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 4.95#41 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Third-down conversion | 38.2%#85 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 47.1%#31 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Third-down conversion allowed | 43.1%#110 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 28.3%#11 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Turnovers / game | 1.60#100 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 0.40#6 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Takeaways / game | 1.40#41 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 0.60#127 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Offensive EPA / play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| EPA allowed / play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Offensive success rate | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Success rate allowed | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Red-zone scoring rate | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Turnover differential / game | -0.20#82 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 0.20#54 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Defensive sacks / game | 2.40#36 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 2.20#48 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Tackles for loss / game | 4.40#103 of 138 covered teams · 5 games | 5.20#72 of 138 covered teams · 5 games |
| Passing EPA / pass play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Rushing EPA / rush play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Explosive-play rate | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Sacks suffered / pass play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| QB hits / pass play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Adjusted strength of schedule | Unavailable | Unavailable |
Statistical matchup analysis
Duke has the higher observed scoring average: North Carolina scores 23.4 points per game and Duke scores 34.0, a 10.6-point difference. These are unadjusted season averages, not an estimate of this game's winning margin.
North Carolina allows 19.0 points per game, compared with 14.4 for Duke. Duke has the stronger defensive scoring figure by 4.6 points per game. Opponent quality and game situations can affect this comparison; a better raw rank is not proof of a better adjusted defense.
North Carolina's offense produces 330.4 yards per game; Duke's defense has conceded 286.0. The 44.4-yard difference compares two observed averages rather than predicting a yardage total. North Carolina averages 5.88 yards per play, which puts it #73 among 138 covered teams.
Duke's offense produces 456.6 yards per game; North Carolina's defense has conceded 356.2. The 100.4-yard difference compares two observed averages rather than predicting a yardage total. Duke averages 6.47 yards per play, which puts it #36 among 138 covered teams.
Third-down conversion is another measurable difference: North Carolina records 38.2%, while Duke records 47.1%. Higher is better for this metric. Compare the sample counts in the table before treating a difference as stable.
Turnover differential / game is another measurable difference: North Carolina records -0.20, while Duke records 0.20. Higher is better for this metric. Compare the sample counts in the table before treating a difference as stable.
The stored production forecast is North Carolina 13.2, Duke 35.9. Duke is projected to win by 22.7 points. SE v3.0 uses recent team and opponent profiles rather than just the full-season averages shown here. The college football model includes home/away context; an independently attributable home-field point adjustment is not exposed for this game, so none is claimed.
Saved sportsbook observations
Spread unavailable
Total unavailable
Observed Not verified. Saved market observations can differ from the original locked betting line.
Final model assessment
Duke is the projected winner in the original stored scoring forecast, with a 22.7-point margin and 49.1 combined points. The comparisons above describe the scoring, defensive and efficiency context for this matchup. The official selection, when published, remains the specific wager in the tracker.
Explore this matchup
Game previews · Spreadsheet entry · Tracked betting record · North Carolina statistics · Duke statistics · ACC previews
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Definitions, coverage & original timestamps
Game ID college-football:401858266. Article creation is not the original prediction timestamp. Original forecast 10/11/2026, 2:14:44 PM CDT; final stored pregame forecast 10/11/2026, 2:14:44 PM CDT. Rates use summed observed numerators and denominators; game averages use games with that statistic. Rankings use competition ties within the covered league population. NFL data uses regular-season games. EPA / play uses observed PBP EPA counts; success means positive EPA. Explosive plays use the source aggregation’s 20-yard passing / 10-yard rushing thresholds. CFB red-zone scoring includes field goals and touchdowns; a different NFL red-zone rate is not substituted. Quarterback hit rate is a hit proxy, not a complete pressure rate. Missing adjusted strength of schedule, pressure rates or archived inputs remain unavailable.