Duke football's matchup with UNC features 2 of the ACC's hottest teams

Anyone who did not leave North Carolina for dead after a 1-5 start probably gave up on the Tar Heels when three-year starter Bryn Renner went down with a season-ending shoulder injury four weeks ago against N.C. State.

Not only is North Carolina bowl eligible and riding a five-game winning streak now, but also the Tar Heels are playing like one of the most dangerous teams in the ACC. In case North Carolina needed any extra motivation heading into the final week of the regular season against arch-rival Duke, the Tar Heels can keep the Blue Devils out of the ACC championship game and win a share of the Coastal Division title with a victory Saturday at Kenan Stadium on Senior Day.

"The way the league has gone, it’s come down to the wire—at least it did last year and now it’s doing it again this year. I think anybody can beat anybody on any given Saturday," North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora said. "If your team keeps believing and keeps playing well you can put yourself in that position and that’s what they’ve done.”

Although North Carolina (6-5, 4-3 in the ACC) comes into Saturday's game facing a Duke (9-2, 5-2) team riding a seven-game win streak of its own, the Tar Heels are fresh off an 80-point offensive explosion against Old Dominion last week. North Carolina's 80 points all came in the first three quarters of the game.

When Blue Devil defensive end Kenny Anunike learned of the Tar Heels' point total after his team's 28-21 road victory against Wake Forest last Saturday, the sixth-year senior was stunned.

"Eighty. Who were they playing?" Anunike asked the reporters who informed him.

Upon hearing that it was FCS opponent Old Dominion, Anunike replied, "I'm not going to comment on that one. That's fine. They're playing Duke next."

Since Renner's injury, North Carolina has relied on sophomore quarterback Marquise Williams, who had previously seen the field in all but one of the Tar Heels' game as a part of running packages. Williams transitioned to being a full-time starter with relative ease, and has completed 61.0 percent of his passes in his last three starts, throwing seven touchdowns and one interception in that span.

Williams has no shortage of weapons on the outside, headlined by junior tight end Eric Ebron. He was an instrumental piece in North Carolina's comeback against Duke last season, catching five passes for 68 yards. Although Ebron has struggled with injuries this season and is listed as questionable for Saturday's matchup with the Blue Devils, expect the tight end to take the field for what will be his final home game at Kenan Stadium.

Ebron has already announced that he will forego his senior season and enter this year's NFL draft. He is listed as the top tight end in this year's draft class by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper, Jr., and should be a top-20 pick.

"I remember watching him in high school and it looked like he was going to be a great player.... I think he's exceeded the expectations," Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said when asked how he planned to contain Ebron. "You use the word 'contain,' I would use the word minimize damage. There is no containment."

Duke's secondary will also need to be wary of sophomore wide receiver Quinshad Davis on the outside. North Carolina's second-leading receiver behind Ebron, the 6-foot-4 target has reeled in nine touchdowns this season and is a threat in the red zone.

But the Tar Heels' newest weapon could be freshman wide receiver Ryan Switzer. Listed at just 5-foot-10, Switzer makes up for his lack of size with his speed and playmaking ability. In addition to being North Carolina's third-leading receiver with 24 receptions on the year, Switzer has proven to be immensely dangerous on special teams, returning four punts for touchdowns in his team's past three games.

Although Duke has proven to be a good directional punting team, the Blue Devils have given up two punt return touchdowns in their past three contests, so Switzer will remain on the team's mind heading into this week's contest. Switzer is a key piece of the youth movement has swept across North Carolina's football program during the back half of the season. The Tar Heels' last 23 touchdowns have been scored by freshmen or sophomores.

Cornerback Ross Cockrell said the dynamic rookie reminds him of someone he gets to line up against every day in practice: Duke junior Jamison Crowder.

"You just look at Jamison, try to guard him, watch him and I think he helps you a lot with Switzer," Cockrell said. "They wear the same number, they're about the same height, so that's how I'm preparing for him."

One week after going up against Wake Forest's Nikita Whitlock, the Blue Devils will be tasked with facing another of the ACC's top defensive linemen in Tar Heel Kareem Martin. The redshirt senior leads the ACC with 11.0 sacks on the season and is a tackling machine for North Carolina, ranking second on the team with 70 stops, including 19 for a loss.

Saturday's contest will be the first 60-minute game that the Tar Heels have played in two full weeks. When last week's game between North Carolina and Old Dominion got out of hand, Fedora shortened the fourth quarter to 10 minutes at the request of Old Dominion head coach Bobby Wilder.

Regardless of who takes home the Victory Bell at the end of the game, be assured of one thing—this week's game will go a full 60 minutes.

"I guess if North Carolina wants to cut it short on their end, that's fine with me," Duke guard Dave Harding said. "Duke football is gearing up for a 60-minute game on Saturday."