UNC vs. Duke: Game Time, TV Schedule, Live Stream and More

What should happen usually doesn't when the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils get together.

In theory, Wednesday should be a pretty predictable affair. The Blue Devils (22-3, 9-3 ACC) are on a five-game winning streak thanks to a renewed defensive focus and some silky smooth offense by big man Jahlil Okafor.

The visiting Tar Heels (18-7, 8-4 ACC) are on the ropes, hoping to avoid a knockout after claiming just one victory in their last four outings.

Then again, since early 1999, the road team actually holds a winning record in this rivalry.

In other words, Wednesday is not some time to take a break from one of the sporting world's best annual offerings. It has earned that status for a reason, after all.

Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina

When: Wednesday, February 18, 9 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3

Matchups to Watch

Marcus Paige vs. Tyus Jones

Jason Getz/Associated Press

Much of the attention for Wednesday's showdown focuses on below the rim—as it should—but the guard matchup on the outside is something to monitor.

Tar Heels junior Marcus Paige leads the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game with a smooth complementary 2.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists. That last number also leads the team, which speaks volumes as to the offense's troubles this year.

Paige personifies this. He's better off the ball, but due to a lack of depth in the backcourt, he runs the offense and must create for himself at the same time, which has led to some very cold spells.

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

When Paige gets hot, though, he really can't be stopped. Think back to a road trip to North Carolina State about a month ago, when he went 6-of-9 and hit on all five attempts from deep to rack up 23 points in a victory. Or a takedown of Syracuse recently in which he shot 6-of-10 from the floor and 4-of-7 from long range to score 22 in a victory.

On the opposite end, freshman Tyus Jones is no slouch with his 11.3/3.5/5.3 slash line—although he slots comfortably into the lead role thanks to no roster issues.

Unlike Jones, the pressure to produce falls on Paige's shoulders. He's proved game before, but on the road in Cameron Indoor Stadium seems a situation in which even the best of the best would stumble.

Then again, this is the Duke-UNC rivalry.

Jahlil Okafor vs. the World

In a one-on-one scenario, North Carolina is doomed against Okafor—perhaps more so than most any other team in the land.

The starter it will trot out, Kennedy Meeks, is only 6'9" and 280 pounds to Okafor's 6'11" and 270. Even worse, he spent the past couple of games in the doghouse for poor play.

The double-teams can and will come in Okafor's direction, but it is hard to suggest they will make all that much of a difference. Just ask Syracuse, his last victim, as he steamrolled to 23 points and 13 boards.

As North Carolina coach Roy Williams put it on ESPN's First Take, Okafor is the scariest thing about Wednesday's encounter, per the show's Twitter account: 

North Carolina's best chance is to throw bodies at Okafor when a pass comes his way, force him to kick outside and take its chances with perimeter shooting.

The Tar Heels can live or die by Duke's jumpers. They can only die if Okafor runs free.

Prediction

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

As fun and narrative-fitting as it would be to say that the Tar Heels finally get healthy, shoot a great percentage and pull off a road upset, it just won't happen. 

The real secret to Duke's success as of late is defense, where a zone look that takes its chances with the outside ability of its opponents continues to prove reliable.

Duke can dial in on Paige and force him to distribute as opposed to playing in a volume-heavy manner. When this happens, second and third scoring options will falter in a hostile environment.

Okafor will get his one way or another. Duke is the more complete team and—for what they are worth—are at home and have the perceived momentum.

This time, things go as planned.

Prediction: Duke 84, North Carolina 76

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.