Duke basketball vs. UNC: Score prediction, scouting report for ACC rivalry

For the first time since 2012, Duke basketball and UNC will play with at least a share of the ACC regular-season championship on the line.

Entering Saturday’s game (6:30 p.m., ESPN) at Cameron Indoor Stadium, the seventh-ranked Tar Heels (24-6, 16-3 ACC) are one game ahead of the ninth-ranked Blue Devils (24-6, 15-4) in the league standings.

UNC claimed a share of the ACC title with its win against Notre Dame, but Duke can earn a share if its beats the Tar Heels in Durham.

Here’s a look at some other things to know and a score prediction for the regular-season finale between Duke and UNC. There's also a poll at the bottom of the article, which allows you to make your prediction for Saturday's showdown.

Duke captain Jeremy Roach’s final game at Cameron?

Senior captain Jeremy Roach could be playing his final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium this weekend against UNC. Roach, like UNC guard RJ Davis, has the option to return for a fifth season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Roach had 20 points in the loss at UNC and has averaged 13.3 points in eight games against the Tar Heels. He’s reached 20 points in two of the last three games in the series and Duke is 12-3 this season when Roach makes multiple 3s in a game.

DUKE-UNC TICKETS: Duke basketball vs. UNC: How much do tickets cost to watch the Blue Devils and Tar Heels?

DUKE'S 2024 RECRUITING CLASS: Meet Khaman Maluach, Duke basketball's latest big-time recruit as a 7-foot-2 center

ALL-TIME TAR HEEL: All-time Tar Heel: How UNC basketball’s Armando Bacot grew after freshman year

Success of UNC’s RJ Davis and Armando Bacot at Duke

UNC center Armando Bacot will be playing his fifth and final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium this weekend. Bacot is 2-2 against the Blue Devils in Durham, averaging 16.5 points and 8.7 rebounds in four games. In UNC’s win against Duke in Chapel Hill earlier this season, Bacot matched a season-high with 25 points to go with 10 rebounds. RJ Davis is 2-1 at Duke, averaging 16 points in the last two games at Cameron. If UNC is going to win the outright ACC title, Bacot and Davis have to lead the way.

Tyrese Proctor is Duke’s X-factor

If the Blue Devils are going to win a share of the ACC title, sophomore captain Tyrese Proctor has to get it done on both ends of the court. Proctor was solid at slowing down RJ Davis in the first meeting, but he struggled offensively with two points on six shots. Duke is 9-2 when it makes at least 10 3-pointers this season and 12-2 when Proctor knocks down multiple triples.

Duke vs. UNC score prediction

Duke 79, UNC 74: This feels like another season in which these longtime rivals split the regular-season series before a third meeting in the ACC Tournament. The Blue Devils will burn it down from long range and join UNC at the championship table with a share of the ACC crown.

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Duke basketball vs. UNC: Score prediction, scouting report