Duke
Last year: 7-6 (3-5 ACC), beat Northern Illinois, 36-14, in Quick Lane Bowl
Best win: vs. Northwestern, 41-17 Worst loss: vs. Miami, 31-6
Coach: David Cutcliffe (11th season, 59-67, 103-96 career)
Starters returning: 18 (7 offense, 8 defense, 3 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Daniel Jones. As a sophomore, Jones completed 56.7 percent of his passes for 2,691 yards, 14 TDs and 11 picks. He also ran for 518 yards and seven more scores.
Defensive player to watch: LB Joe Giles-Harris. As a sophomore, Giles-Harris led the team in tackles (125 - third in ACC) and tackles for losses (16) while adding 4.5 sacks, an interception, and a
forced fumble.
Special teams player to watch: K/P Austin Parker. As a sophomore, Parker made 17 of his 21 field goals with a long of 45 and also averaged 42 yards per punt.
Schedule: vs. Army, at Northwestern, at Baylor, vs. North Carolina Central, vs. Virginia Tech, at Georgia Tech, vs. Virginia, at Pittsburgh, at Miami, vs. North Carolina, at Clemson, vs. Wake Forest.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5. It looked like Duke was not going to be able to make a bowl for a second straight year when it was 4-6 in 2017, but it finished with two consecutive victories to make the postseason and then won its bowl game, too. Solid talent and a good number of returning starters should give Duke a shot to finish in the top four of the Coastal Division, but the schedule is pretty tough with Northwestern, Virginia Tech, Clemson, and Miami all on the schedule. And Army, which is no walkover, beat Duke last season.
North Carolina
Last year: 3-9 (1-7 ACC) Best win: at Pittsburgh, 34-31 Worst loss: at Virginia Tech, 59-7
Coach: Larry Fedora (seventh season, 43-34, 77-53 career)
Starters returning: 15 (6 offense, 7 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive players to watch: QBs Chazz Surratt and Nathan Elliott. These QBs had good moments and bad moments last season. One of them will start Week 1 against Cal. In 2017, Surratt played more at the beginning of the season and completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 1,342 yards, eight TDs, and three picks. Elliott played more at the end of the season and completed 51.4 percent of his passes for 925 yards, 10 scores, and five interceptions. Surratt has more running ability. He added 210 yards on the ground and five TDs, while Elliott recorded 134 rushing yards.
Defensive player to watch: DE Malik Carney. As a junior, Carney tallied 57 tackles, 12 for losses,
and 5.5 sacks to go along with a pair of forced fumbles.
Special teams player to watch: P Tom Sheldon. In 2017, Sheldon, now a junior, averaged 45.8 yards per punt while putting 16 inside the 20 and booting 12 at least 50 yards.
Schedule: at Cal, at East Carolina, vs. UCF, vs. Pittsburgh, at Miami, vs. Virginia Tech, at Syracuse, at Virginia, vs. Georgia Tech, at Duke, vs. Western Carolina, vs. N.C. State.
Win-loss prediction: 5-7 or 6-6. Tons of youth and injuries led to the Tar Heels' worst season under Fedora a year ago. If it stays healthy, this defense could be pretty good. The offense needs more consistency from the line and at QB. The first half of the season features three tough road games against Cal, UCF, and Miami and could spell trouble for UNC's bowl hopes.
Last year: 7-6 (3-5 ACC), beat Northern Illinois, 36-14, in Quick Lane Bowl
Best win: vs. Northwestern, 41-17 Worst loss: vs. Miami, 31-6
Coach: David Cutcliffe (11th season, 59-67, 103-96 career)
Starters returning: 18 (7 offense, 8 defense, 3 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Daniel Jones. As a sophomore, Jones completed 56.7 percent of his passes for 2,691 yards, 14 TDs and 11 picks. He also ran for 518 yards and seven more scores.
Defensive player to watch: LB Joe Giles-Harris. As a sophomore, Giles-Harris led the team in tackles (125 - third in ACC) and tackles for losses (16) while adding 4.5 sacks, an interception, and a
Special teams player to watch: K/P Austin Parker. As a sophomore, Parker made 17 of his 21 field goals with a long of 45 and also averaged 42 yards per punt.
Schedule: vs. Army, at Northwestern, at Baylor, vs. North Carolina Central, vs. Virginia Tech, at Georgia Tech, vs. Virginia, at Pittsburgh, at Miami, vs. North Carolina, at Clemson, vs. Wake Forest.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5. It looked like Duke was not going to be able to make a bowl for a second straight year when it was 4-6 in 2017, but it finished with two consecutive victories to make the postseason and then won its bowl game, too. Solid talent and a good number of returning starters should give Duke a shot to finish in the top four of the Coastal Division, but the schedule is pretty tough with Northwestern, Virginia Tech, Clemson, and Miami all on the schedule. And Army, which is no walkover, beat Duke last season.
North Carolina
Last year: 3-9 (1-7 ACC) Best win: at Pittsburgh, 34-31 Worst loss: at Virginia Tech, 59-7
Coach: Larry Fedora (seventh season, 43-34, 77-53 career)
Starters returning: 15 (6 offense, 7 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive players to watch: QBs Chazz Surratt and Nathan Elliott. These QBs had good moments and bad moments last season. One of them will start Week 1 against Cal. In 2017, Surratt played more at the beginning of the season and completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 1,342 yards, eight TDs, and three picks. Elliott played more at the end of the season and completed 51.4 percent of his passes for 925 yards, 10 scores, and five interceptions. Surratt has more running ability. He added 210 yards on the ground and five TDs, while Elliott recorded 134 rushing yards.
Defensive player to watch: DE Malik Carney. As a junior, Carney tallied 57 tackles, 12 for losses,
Special teams player to watch: P Tom Sheldon. In 2017, Sheldon, now a junior, averaged 45.8 yards per punt while putting 16 inside the 20 and booting 12 at least 50 yards.
Schedule: at Cal, at East Carolina, vs. UCF, vs. Pittsburgh, at Miami, vs. Virginia Tech, at Syracuse, at Virginia, vs. Georgia Tech, at Duke, vs. Western Carolina, vs. N.C. State.
Win-loss prediction: 5-7 or 6-6. Tons of youth and injuries led to the Tar Heels' worst season under Fedora a year ago. If it stays healthy, this defense could be pretty good. The offense needs more consistency from the line and at QB. The first half of the season features three tough road games against Cal, UCF, and Miami and could spell trouble for UNC's bowl hopes.
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