North Carolina at Duke Week 7 College Football Matchup North Carolina at Duke Matchup - Week 7
Sat, Oct 17 2026 · Week 7 · 🏟 Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC · Turf · 40,000 cap
Preseason projection — This game has not yet been played and 2026 in-season data is not yet available. Edges are based on 2025 full-season performance. Confidence will increase once in-season games are logged.
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
North Carolina
24
Duke
29
P&R Line Duke -5
P&R Total O/U 53
Confidence 69 Good
Matchup Prediction
Duke has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Duke entering this game.
Momentum Control
58.4%
Duke wins
Lean
Game Control
67.1%
Duke wins
Solid
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Duke · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🚌 North Carolina 2nd straight Road Game
North Carolina 2026 Schedule
North Carolina's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/29North Carolina vs TCU+7.550.5
Sat 9/12North Carolina vs East Tennessee State-25.5
Sat 9/19North Carolina at Clemson+11
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/3North Carolina vs Notre Dame+22.5
Sat 10/10North Carolina at Pittsburgh+8.5
Sat 10/17North Carolina at Duke+5
Sat 10/24North Carolina vs Syracuse-6
Sat 10/31North Carolina vs Miami+18
Sat 11/7North Carolina at UConn-7
Sat 11/14North Carolina vs Louisville+6.5
Sat 11/21North Carolina at Virginia+7.5
Sat 11/28North Carolina vs NC State+1.5
Duke 2026 Schedule
Duke's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5Duke vs Tulane-9.5
Sat 9/12Duke at Illinois+7
Sat 9/19Duke vs Stanford-10
Sat 9/26Duke vs William & Mary-28
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/10Duke at Georgia Tech+1.5
Sat 10/17Duke vs North Carolina-5
Fri 10/23Duke at Virginia+5
Sat 10/31Duke vs Boston College-10.5
Fri 11/6Duke at NC State+4
Sat 11/14Duke at Miami+20.5
Sat 11/21Duke vs Clemson+3.5
Sat 11/28Duke at Wake Forest+2
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season (prior year)
Duke PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Duke
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Duke
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Duke
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
North Carolina #119
+0.300
Duke #25
+0.427
Duke Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
North Carolina #92
+0.613
Duke #24
+0.593
North Carolina Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
North Carolina #91
0.148
Duke #36
0.172
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Duke Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
North Carolina #108
+7.720
Duke #26
+7.892
Duke Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
North Carolina #115
+0.820
Duke #30
+0.870
Duke Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
North Carolina #62
70.7
Duke #20
68.7
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Duke Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2025 season (prior year — 2026 data not yet available) · 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
North Carolina #71
-0.2
Duke #53
3.0
Offense Rating
North Carolina #65
15.8
Duke #72
15.3
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
North Carolina #73
16.0
Duke #38
12.2
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
North Carolina #120
0.55
Duke #47
1.15
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
North Carolina #63
1.00
Duke #95
1.62
Duke +0.61
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 2025 full season · preseason estimate
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Duke Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
North Carolina #113
32.1
Duke #40
46.5
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
North Carolina #115
55.7
Duke #60
36.1
Duke +14.4
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 67.1% of games historically
Based on 2025 full season · preseason estimate
Coaching Matchup
North Carolina
Bill Belichick #103
4–8 (33%) · Yr 2 at school
OC Bobby Petrino Yr 1 #18
DC Stephen Belichick Yr 2 #61
Staff Rating
2.83 #61
Duke
Manny Diaz #52
18–9 (67%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Jonathan Brewer Yr 3 #49
DC Jonathan Patke Yr 3 #112
Staff Rating
2.75 #65
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