Duke at North Carolina Week 5 College Football Matchup Duke at North Carolina Matchup - Week 5
Sat, Oct 2 2021 · Week 5 · 🏟 Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC · Turf · 62,980 cap
Away
7 38
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Duke
24
North Carolina
46
P&R Line North Carolina -22.5
P&R Total O/U 69.5
Confidence 86 High
Vegas North Carolina -19.5 · O/U 74.0
Matchup Prediction
Duke has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Duke entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
Duke wins
Lean
Game Control
64.9%
Duke wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
North Carolina -19.5
O/U 74.0
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → North Carolina · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
Duke 2021 Schedule
Duke's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Fri 9/3Duke at Charlotte-6.0L28–3160.0L28–31UN
Fri 9/10Duke vs North Carolina A&T-22.5W45–1755.5W45–17OY
Sat 9/18Duke vs Northwestern+2.5W30–2350.0W30–23OY
Sat 9/25Duke vs Kansas-16.5W52–3357.5W52–33OY
Sat 10/2Duke at North Carolina+19.5L7–3874.0L7–38UN
Sat 10/9Duke vs Georgia Tech+4.5L27–3160.5L27–31UY
Sat 10/16Duke at Virginia+10.5L0–4869.5L0–48UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/30Duke at Wake Forest+16.5L7–4571.5L7–45UN
Sat 11/6Duke vs Pittsburgh+21.0L29–5464.5L29–54ON
Sat 11/13Duke at Virginia Tech+13.5L17–4850.5L17–48ON
Thu 11/18Duke vs Louisville+20.0L22–6260.0L22–62ON
Sat 11/27Duke vs Miami+20.5L10–4767.0L10–47UN
North Carolina 2021 Schedule
North Carolina's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Fri 9/3North Carolina at Virginia Tech-5.5L10–1763.5L10–17UN
Sat 9/11North Carolina vs Georgia State-26.0W59–1765.0W59–17OY
Sat 9/18North Carolina vs Virginia-7.5W59–3967.0W59–39OY
Sat 9/25North Carolina vs Georgia Tech-14.5L22–4566.0L22–45ON
Sat 10/2North Carolina vs Duke-19.5W38–774.0W38–7UY
Sat 10/9North Carolina vs Florida State-17.5L25–3564.5L25–35UN
Sat 10/16North Carolina vs Miami-7.5W45–4263.5W45–42ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/30North Carolina at Notre Dame+3.5L34–4463.0L34–44ON
Sat 11/6North Carolina vs Wake Forest-2.5W58–5578.0W58–55OY
Thu 11/11North Carolina at Pittsburgh+6.5L23–3072.0L23–30UN
Sat 11/20North Carolina vs Wofford-37.0W34–1462.0W34–14UN
Fri 11/26North Carolina at NC State+6.5L30–3462.0L30–34OY
Thu 12/30North Carolina vs South Carolina-12.5L21–3857.5L21–38ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
North Carolina PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ North Carolina
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Duke
+0.442
North Carolina
+0.666
North Carolina Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Duke
+0.641
North Carolina
+0.775
North Carolina Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Duke
0.162
North Carolina
0.153
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Duke Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Duke
+7.313
North Carolina
+9.292
North Carolina Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Duke
+0.886
North Carolina
+0.930
North Carolina Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Duke
71.4
North Carolina
71.3
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
North Carolina Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Duke Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Duke
4.1
North Carolina
-0.1
Offense Rating
Duke
14.3
North Carolina
15.8
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Duke
10.2
North Carolina
15.9
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Duke Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Duke #130
2.25
North Carolina #5
2.00
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Duke #145
0.50
North Carolina #90
1.25
Duke +0.25
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 4 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Duke Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Duke #1
75.3
North Carolina #1
58.5
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Duke #113
12.8
North Carolina #64
32.9
Duke +16.8
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 64.9% of games historically
Based on 4 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
North Carolina
2 — 0 sequences
✗ Predicted incorrectly
GC Battle
North Carolina
93.5 — 1.9 GC score
✗ Predicted incorrectly
Game Result
North Carolina won by 31
✗ Model missed it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Duke with a solid GC edge. Teams with this profile have covered 53.0% of the time historically (n=330) — a mild lean.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Duke
David Cutcliffe #1
76–89 (46%) · Yr 14 at school
OC Re'Quan Boyette Yr 1 #1
DC Ben Albert Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
North Carolina
Mack Brown #1
17–11 (61%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Phil Longo Yr 1 #1
DC Jay Bateman Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself