North Carolina is set to take on Duke in the first of two regular-season meetings between the historic programs.
With the rivalry set to renew in Chapel Hill, both teams aim to end the night with another victory on their season resume. The main question is this: which team will do enough to earn the upper-hand in this meeting?
The Keeping It Heel staff has provided our predictions for Round 1 of this season's Duke vs. North Carolina series. Is our staff confident in the Tar Heels, or do they believe the Blue Devils will escape Chapel Hill with a win?
Find out below!
Staff Predictions
Nick Delahanty- Site Expert
It's nearly impossible to predict what will happen when these two historic programs square off on the basketball court. The rivalry always delivers, as it is one where it truly is anyone's game to win (or lose).
Where the game is played matters. For the team playing in front of the home crowd, there's a distinct advantage, one in which you need to take advantage of.
In this instance, North Carolina has that edge, and there's no doubt that Caleb Wilson, Seth Trimble, and the Tar Heels want nothing more than to defeat Duke in front of the UNC faithful.
Get ready for another stressful game (as always), but I do think that Caleb Wilson is poised to make a statement in his introduction to this rivalry. Give me the Tar Heels to hold on late down the stretch for the win.
Prediction: UNC 81, Duke 79
Jordan Falls- Contributor
Boozer scores 29, but UNC contains the rest of the Duke offense & behind the strength of the home crowd, comes out victorious.
One possession game inside the final minute with UNC up by 3, Duke misses a game tying shot and Carolina makes both free throws to go up 5 and close out the victory.
Prediction: UNC 78, Duke 73
Kade Nix- Contributor
I think the Tar Heels frontcourt duo finally puts the few remaining doubters to rest, and Derek Dixon shines in his first rivalry game and comes up huge for Carolina in the late stages of the game. Productive guard play may ultimately be the key to the Heels victory in this one, and the freshman gets it done at home.
Prediction: UNC 84, Duke 82