It is a bit tougher sell at the moment to argue that NC State is at the elite level than it is to make the same case for the Tar Heels. A rugged pre-league slate seems to have battle-hardened UNC, now on a 4-game win streak as portal adds Harrison Ingram (Stanford) and Cormac Ryan (Notre Dame) add a more-defined edge on the attack end. Meanwhile the long-serving RJ Davis (20.6 ppg) and Armando Bacot (15 ppg, 11 rpg) are producing as well as ever. Meanwhile, the Wolfpack's exposure to top-level teams has resulted in losses to BYU, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. A short trip to Raleigh on Tobacco Road is also old-hat for the Tar Heels. Play North Carolina

NC State has looked pretty good this season and are in a nice spot at home against the rival Tar heels. But UNC continues to prove themselves as a Top 10 team in the country battling through a tough schedule and already winning big conference road games. The Wolfpack have been tested already this year, but they've lost those tough tests. I'll continue to ride UNC even on the road.