Duke favored by 3.5 points over North Carolina in ACC football

Duke is favored by 3.5 points against North Carolina in their ACC matchup, with both teams coming off close conference games: Duke lost 28-25 to Georgia Tech, while North Carolina beat Pittsburgh 21-17. Duke’s strengths include third-down offense and ball control, while North Carolina has a major advantage in avoiding penalties and ranks well in red-zone defense. The Tar Heels’ defense has struggled to stop opponents on third down, a potential opening for Duke’s offense.