Last Update on November 07, 2009 03:31 EST

ATLANTA (AP) -- Two is a crucial number for both Georgia Tech and Wake Forest.

The Number 10 Yellow Jackets are chasing the higher prize, needing two wins to clinch a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. But two victories also would be meaningful for Wake Forest, which is trying to become eligible for its fourth straight bowl trip.

The teams meet Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Georgia Tech has won six straight at its home field, while the Demon Deacons are trying to shake off a string of close losses -- four coming by a total of 10 points.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- These days, North Carolina is enjoying an edge on Duke in the long-running, back-and-forth race between college basketball's fiercest rivals.

The Tar Heels have two NCAA championships in the five seasons since the Blue Devils last reached the Final Four. They've also dominated the recent series, including four straight wins at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

That coincides with Roy Williams' return to coach his alma mater in Chapel Hill. He says each school has been good for the other and that they've probably pushed one another to achieve even more over the years.

Duke senior Jon Scheyer says he's not worried about everything the Tar Heels have accomplished of late. He's just focused on beating them this season.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- North Carolina and Duke meet Saturday with both teams just two wins away from becoming bowl eligible.

The Tar Heels are coming off a surprising win at Virginia Tech that gave the Tar Heels some needed momentum going into the final month of the season. But the Blue Devils have won three straight games as they seek to become bowl eligible for the first time in 15 years.

The challenge for the Tar Heels will be to stop Duke quarterback Thad Lewis, who has thrown for 300 yards in four straight games. North Carolina owns the league's top defense and one of the best in the country, but Lewis has coach David Cutcliffe's offense moving at high speed.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- No teams in the ACC's Atlantic Division have been bigger disappointments than Maryland and North Carolina State.

The Wolfpack were believed to be preseason contenders to win the division but are the only team winless in ACC play. The Terrapins have just one win over a Bowl Subdivision team and can't get anything going on the ground.

Two teams with little to play for meet Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Injuries have crippled both teams. N.C. State have lost 12 players for the season. Maryland's ground game has been a nonfactor since Da'Rel Scott broke his wrist last month.

The loser will be officially eliminated from bowl contention. The winner must run the table just to qualify for a bowl.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Matt Kenseth will start on the pole for the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Texas, five spots ahead of points leader Kyle Busch.

Kenseth earned his first pole in his 13 Nationwide races this season, the 16th in his career, with a qualifying lap of 187.201 mph in his Ford. David Ragan also starts his Ford on the front row.

Busch, who has a 205-point lead over Carl Edwards with three races left, starts sixth. Edwards starts directly behind him in the Number Eight spot.

Busch won from the pole at Texas in April, one of his seven Nationwide victories.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Indiana Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough will make his pro debut Friday night against Washington after missing the preseason and four regular-season games with a right shin injury.

Coach Jim O'Brien said the team's first-round pick from North Carolina will be a reserve, and the plan is to play him for about 16 minutes.

Hansbrough led North Carolina to the national championship last season. The Pacers need him because starting power forward Troy Murphy is out with a bruised lower back.

Danny Granger will move from small forward to Murphy's spot at power forward, and Dahntay Jones will start at small forward in Granger's place.

Mike Dunleavy , Travis Diener and Jeff Foster also are out for the Pacers.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Mathematically, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon still have a chance to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup title.

The reality with three races left? Gordon says there's still a "great battle going for second in points."

Jimmie Johnson, going for an unprecedented fourth consecutive title, takes a 184-point lead over Martin into Texas on Sunday. Gordon is eight points behind Martin.

After an airborne crash with two laps to go at Talladega last week, Martin dropped 66 points further behind Johnson.

Martin, a four-time season runner-up, says there is "no heartbreak whatsoever" but he'd "rather go down fighting than flipping."

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Carolina Panthers kicker John Kasay is questionable for Sunday's game at New Orleans after missing a second straight practice with a groin injury.

Kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd would likely attempt field goals and extra points if Kasay misses his first game since 2004.

Fullback Brad Hoover won't play due to a high ankle sprain. Backup Tony Fiammetta missed his third straight practice Friday and is questionable.

Receiver Muhsin Muhammad is listed as questionable, but is expected to sit out a second straight game with a knee injury. Running back Jonathan Stewart is questionable, but practiced.

Safety Charles Godfrey , tight end Dante Rosario and linebacker Landon Johnson are questionable.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The owner of the New Orleans Hornets has announced that he has cancer.

George Shinn made the announcement in a news release Friday that he was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Shinn says he remains healthy and is optimistic that he will conquer the disease.

Shin, who moved the Hornets from Charlotte to New Orleans in 2002, says he and his wife, Denise, "remain strong in our faith and will maintain a positive attitude as I battle this with intense fervor and drive."