Free College Football Picks Today: Duke Blue Devils vs North Carolina Tar Heels 10/15/22

The Duke University Blue Devils (4-2, 1-1 ACC) welcome the University of North Carolina Tar Heels (5-1, 2-0 ACC) at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday for a matchup that pits one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s best defenses against its top offense. The Tar Heels are seven-point favorites, and the total is 67. North Carolina is coming off a tight 27-24 win over No. 25 Miami (FL) at Hard Rock Stadium last Saturday. Drake Maye was 19 of 28 for 309 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Caleb Hood ran 13 times for 74 yards. He added five receptions for 50 yards. J.J. Jones caught two passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. Duke lost 23-20 to Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field last Saturday. Riley Leonard threw for 136 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Jaquez Moore carried 12 times for 59 yards. Jontavis Robertson caught three receptions for 41 yards.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Tar Heels won the only game between the teams last season, a 38-7 victory in October, their third straight win against Duke. Sam Howell threw three touchdowns for North Carolina, as Ty Chandler added two TDs (1 rush, 1 rec).

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Tar Heels are averaging 42.3 points per game for the season, eighth in FBS, and they are facing a Blue Devils defense that has surrendered 19.7 PPG (33rd). Meanwhile, Duke has scored 32.5 points a game this season, 48th in the nation, and North Carolina is allowing 32.0 PPG (107th). The Tar Heels rank as one of the nation’s top teams in passing yards per game (317.8, 13th), while they are 43rd in rushing yards (183.2). The Blue Devils are 85th in passing yards allowed per game (240.7) and 64th against the run (139.2).Duke is 87th in the nation in passing yards per game (225.8) and 34th in rushing (190.7). North Carolina’s defense has been most vulnerable through the air, as the Tar Heels are 124th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (297.5). Against the run, the Tar Heels are 96th (167.8).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through six games, Drake Maye has thrown for 21 touchdowns (3 INT) and 317.2 yards per game to lead North Carolina in passing. In three away games this season, he has eight TDs (3 INT) and an average of 315.0 yards passing. Omarion Hampton leads the team in rushing with an average of 54.8 yards a game over six games. He has six touchdowns on the ground and three through the air. Josh Downs is the Tar Heels’ leading receiver with 74.8 yards a game and five TDs. Riley Leonard has eight passing touchdowns (3 INT) with 218.7 yards per game through six games to lead Duke. In three home games this season, he has thrown for five TDs (1 INT) and an average of 204.0 yards. Jaylen Coleman has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 61.4 yards a game through five games. He has four touchdowns. Jalon Calhoun has been a key target in the Blue Devils’ passing game. He has two touchdowns and a 71.2 yard per game average through five appearances.