North Carolina Tar Heels at Duke Blue Devils: Preview, prediction, TV info

North Carolina and Duke enter their annual rivalry game with winning records for just the third time in the past 31 years. Duke has won the Victory Bell once in the past 22 meetings but has it's best shot in a long time.

By Shawn Krest

Oct 17, 2012 at 9:05 pm ET • 1 min read

Giovani Bernard has rushed for 439 yards the past two weeks. (US Presswire)

North Carolina (5-2, 2-1 ACC) at Duke (5-2, 2-1 ACC)

Kickoff: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPNU)

Spread: North Carolina by 10.5.

Watchability: The rivalry may not be ratcheted up to basketball levels quite yet, but both teams enter with a winning record for just the third time in 31 years. Traditionally, the regular-season finale, this is the earliest the game has been played since 1943.

Shining stars: North Carolina: RB Giovani Bernard has gained 439 yards the past two weeks. He’s 95 yards from 2,000 for his career. Duke: With 53 receiving yards, WR Desmond Scott will become the first player in school history to have 1,000 yards rushing, receiving, and on kickoff returns.

Who could steal the show: North Carolina: DE Kareem Martin is second in the ACC with 10 tackles for loss. He had two against Miami last week and also broke up two passes. Duke: S Jordon Byas missed the first three games recovering from surgery. Since returning, he has 36 tackles, two interceptions, two pass breakups and a half sack in four games.

You going? Ranking the road trip: The Blue Devils have their best chance at regaining the Victory Bell -- the prize for the rivalry game’s winner -- for the first time since 2003 and just the second time in 23 years. The crowd should be amped for the game.

Magic number for North Carolina: 37. A North Carolina running back has rushed for 100 yards 37 times against Duke, including seven of the past eight games. Bernard rushed for 165 yards in last season’s game.

Magic number for Duke: 4. Duke’s five running backs have combined for four career fumbles, or one every 54.9 carries. All four fumbles have come this season.

The game comes down to: Emotion. The Blue Devils suffered a heartbreaking loss after leading Virginia Tech 20-0 last weekend. They’ll need a short memory to match up with the talented Heels.

Prediction: North Carolina 28, Duke 21

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from ACC bloggers Shawn Krest and Sean Bielawski, follow @CBSSportsACC.