3 Biggest X-Factors For Duke to Grab Win vs UNC

The Duke Blue Devils are entering their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels this week, ready to show out.

After dropping a tough contest to Georgia Tech last week, Duke will try to bounce back against their rivals. The Blue Devils will enter this game with a record of 4-1 on the season, while North Carolina comes in at 3-2.

Both teams want to make a statement here, but this game will likely be close given the rivalry. Even in football, Duke and North Carolina matchups are all about bragging rights between the two teams.

Here are three of the biggest X-Factors for Duke to take down North Carolina this week:

1. Get Nate Sheppard Going

The catalyst for the Duke offense is running back Nate Sheppard, who has rushed for 743 yards and six touchdowns this year. Through the air, Sheppard has added 17 receptions for 161 yards and three touchdowns, helping out the passing game.

Sheppard is easily the most important player for this Blue Devils team, and if he can have a strong game against North Carolina, it could help Duke out greatly. It may be cliche, but Sheppard is the biggest X-Factor for the Blue Devils to take down their rivals this week.

2. Walker Eget Continues to Limit Turnovers

Eget has done well for the Blue Devils this season so far, throwing for 980 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception. The Duke quarterback has done well to limit turnovers this year, and he will need to keep that going against North Carolina.

Duke's offense thrives when both the running game and passing attack are complimentary, keeping defenses on their heels. Eget will be counted on heavily in this game against the Tar Heels, and if he can deliver, it could be a successful day for the Blue Devils.

3. Avoid Pressure in Best Way Possible

The Tar Heels have some of the better defensive players at getting to the quarterback in the country, namely defensive lineman Xavier Lewis. Duke is going to have to make sure to know where he is at all times to avoid having him change the game in an instant.

Lewis has 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss through the first five games for North Carolina, showing that he can do damage to the Blue Devils if they aren't careful. Duke's offensive line could play a massive role in this game, and how they protect will likely determine the outcome.