Third and goal: Duke football vs. North Carolina

Following a hard-fought 24-21 loss against No. 18 Virginia Tech, the Blue Devils face a quick turnaround in anticipation of a heated rivalry game against No. 15 North Carolina. The Tar Heels visit Wallace Wade Stadium after an impressive 48-20 victory against Georgia Tech, looking to continue their winning ways against a struggling Duke team that is still winless in ACC play. Here are three keys for Thursday’s matchup in the Blue Devils' last home game of the season:

CONTAIN the Tar Heels' DYNAMIC DUO

North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky and running back Elijah Hood combined for 541 yards of total offense against the Yellow Jackets. The dangerous tandem has carried the explosive Tar Heel offense all season and will look to impose its will early against the Blue Devils. Trubisky, a versatile pocket passer, is averaging more than 300 passing yards per game, which has the Tar Heels ranked 20th in the country in passing. Complementing Trubisky’s elite passing ability, Elijah Hood possesses the speed and big-play ability on the ground that Duke has been vulnerable to all season long. The Blue Devil defense will have its hands full, but must find a way to limit North Carolina’s effectiveness on offense and get key stops to get off the field.

LIMIT MISTAKES AND TURNOVERS

After losing its last two games by three points each, Duke's mistakes in crucial situations and inability to finish games have been costly. If the Blue Devils want to have a shot against their Tobacco Road rivals, they must limit turnovers on offense and play steady on defense and special teams. Duke must extend offensive drives on third-down plays to keep the Tar Heel offense off the field. The defense must limit big plays and get stops to keep the Blue Devils in the game. Similarly, Duke's special teams unit must convert its opportunities in the kicking game and control field position to have a chance against the talented Tar Heels.

GET OFF TO A QUICK START

In several games in ACC play, Duke has started off slowly before finding its stride in the second half. More often than not, the Blue Devils' rallies have come up short due to mistakes on both sides of the ball. In a rivalry game like this, Duke must find a way to make a big play or take an early lead to electrify the home crowd and keep momentum. For the Blue Devils to have a chance, their offense must convert on scoring opportunities in the first quarter to avoid facing a double-digit halftime deficit for the third straight week. If Duke can keep it close in the second half, it might have a chance to get its first win against North Carolina in three years.