FACTS & STATS: Site: Wallace Wade Stadium (33,941) -- Durham, North Carolina. Television:ESPNU. Home Record: UNC 5-2, Duke 3-3. Away Record: UNC 2-2, Duke 1-4. Neutral Record: UNC 0-0, Duke 0-0. Conference Record: UNC 3-4, Duke 1-6. Series Record: North Carolina leads, 54-35-4.

GAME NOTES: The North Carolina Tar Heels will try to get back on track this weekend, as they square off against the Duke Blue Devils in ACC play. The Tar Heels enter the contest riding their first losing streak of the year at two games. The team is also coming off its worst performance of the season, a 41-10 beating at the hands of NC State last weekend. The win not only knocked UNC out of the Top 25, but it also dropped it under .500 in league play at 3-4. Still, the Tar Heels are much improved from a year ago and three of their four losses this season have come by three points or fewer. As for Duke, its fast start to the season seems like a distant memory following losses in six of their last seven outings. On Saturday, the Blue Devils bowl hopes were dashed with a 14-3 setback at Virginia Tech. It was the team's fourth loss in a row overall and the sixth straight in ACC play. In terms of the all-time series, UNC holds a 54-35-4 advantage over Duke and it has won 17 of the last 18 meetings in the rivalry.

Much like the rest of the ACC, UNC hasn't had all that much success moving the ball on offense this season, averaging just 312.6 total ypg. The team is gaining 120.2 ypg on the ground and 192.5 ypg through the air, with a near even split between its 31 offensive scores. Last weekend, the Tar Heels managed only 203 total yards and it turned the ball over six times in a lopsided loss to NC State. T.J. Yates returned to the starting lineup this past weekend, but he threw for just 116 yards and an interception on 10-of-22 tosses. As expected, it was a rusty showing from Yates, who started the first three games this season before breaking his left ankle against Virginia Tech in September. Cameron Sexton had won four of six starts in replacement of Yates, but head coach Butch Davis decided to go back to Yates this past weekend. Hakeem Nicks has provided an open target to whomever has ended up under center and he leads the team with 57 catches, 967 yards and eight touchdowns. In the backfield, Shaun Draughn paces UNC with 691 yards behind a 4.5 yard per carry average.

The Tar Heels have performed well on the defensive side of things and are holding their foes to 20.4 ppg and 358.6 total ypg. The unit is giving up 147.0 rushing ypg and 211.6 passing ypg, but has made up for some of those yards by forcing 25 turnovers, including 18 interceptions. Last weekend, however, UNC failed to generate a singly takeaway while allowing 466 total yards in a loss to NC State. The defense gave up 187 of those yards on the ground, as it spent over 38 minutes of the game on the field. Mark Paschal guided the team with 13 tackles, while Quan Sturdivant had nine stops. The duo have been tremendous this season and have combined for 201 tackles, four sacks and four interceptions.

Duke has had its share of struggles on offense this season, averaging only 109.3 ypg on the ground and 190.4 ypg through the air. Hanging onto the ball has also been an issue at times for the Blue Devils, who have committed 19 turnovers. Last weekend, Duke turned the ball over four times and managed only 136 total yards in a 14-3 loss to Virginia Tech. Quarterback Zack Asack got the start for the injured Thaddeus Lewis and he struggled greatly, completing just 2-of-9 tosses for 20 yards and four interceptions. One of his picks was also returned for a touchdown late in the game. Asack hasn't had much success in his limited playing time and that is bad news considering Lewis, who has thrown for 14 touchdowns, is listed as questionable with a sprained left ankle/foot. Eron Riley is the squad's top target in the passing game, posting 56 catches for 630 yards and seven scores.

Defensively, the Blue Devils haven't been all that bad this season, limiting their opponents to 23.0 pp and 351.0 total ypg. Duke is surrendering 147.9 ypg on the ground and 203.1 ypg through the air and it has compensated for some of those yards by forcing 23 turnovers. Last weekend, the Blue Devils came up with five takeaways while limiting Virginia Tech's offense to 334 yards and just one touchdown in a losing effort. Duke also registered four sacks, bringing their season total to 24 in that department. Vincent Rey led the Blue Devils with 11 stops and a forced fumble, while Michael Tauiliili had nine tackles and an interception. On the year, Tauiliili has been sensational for this defense, leading the charge with 120 tackles and three interceptions.

UNC is a much better team than it showed last weekend and it should be able to continue its dominance of Duke behind a solid effort from both the offense and defense this weekend.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: North Carolina 34, Duke 14

Saturday, November 29th, 3:30 p.m. (et)