WR Conner Vernon is 74 yards from cracking the top five on the ACC’s all-time list. (US Presswire) |
NC Central (1-1, 0-0 MEAC) at Duke (1-1, 0-0 ACC)
Kickoff: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
Spread: No line
Watchability: The schools are both based in Durham, five miles apart. If you’re outside of that five-mile radius, you’ll probably be watching something else.
Shining stars: NC Central: WR Geovonie Irvine has three TD catches this season. He’s NCCU’s fourth all-time leading receiver and could move into third Saturday. Duke: WR Jamison Crowder became the first Duke player to start a season with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since 1998, and just the third in school history. He’s had a catch of 50 yards or more in each game.
Who could steal the show: NC Central: The Eagles will need to slow Duke’s offense to have a chance, and DE Xavier Proctor could play a major role. He has two tackles for a loss and half a sack in the first two games. Duke: Brandon Connette isn’t listed on the depth chart because he doesn’t spend enough time at any one position. The backup QB has already lined up at RB, TE and WR this season.
You going? Ranking the road trip: It’s the Bull City Classic, and the first game between the cross-town rivals drew 26,000 on a rainy evening. The schools are also competing in a cross-country meet Saturday evening, and the race will start on the track surrounding the field at Wallace Wade Stadium, 15 minutes before kickoff. Also, Duke WR Blair Holliday, who was severely injured in a watercraft accident over the summer, is expected to attend the game.
Magic number for NC Central: 5. The game at Duke will be the closest NC Central has to a home game for more than a month. The Eagles will be playing the second in a stretch of five straight road games.
Magic number for Duke: 74. Conner Vernon is 11th in career receiving yards in ACC history with 2,904. If he adds 74 yards, he’ll move into the top-five all-time. Two catches will also move him into second on the ACC career list.
The game comes down to: Duke avoiding injuries and developing depth while the city of Durham celebrates its two football schools.
Prediction: Duke 31, NC Central 6
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from ACC bloggers Shawn Krest and Sean Bielawski, follow @CBSSportsACC.