No. 20 Deacons, No. 21 NC State meet as ranked foes 3rd time

No. 20 Wake Forest (6-2, 2-2 ACC) at No. 21 North Carolina State (6-2, 2-2), Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT (ACC Network)

Line: Wake Forest by 4 1/2 , according to .

Series record: N.C. State leads 67-42-6.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

The instate foes meet with both in the AP Top 25 for the second straight season. Both the Demon Deacons and Wolfpack entered the season aiming to contend in the Atlantic Division race. But both have lost to No. 5 Clemson along with suffering a second league loss to see those chances evaporate. The past two meetings have been decided by 45-42 scores, first with the Wolfpack winning at home in 2020 and then the Demon Deacons winning at home last year in a game that largely decided the division race.

KEY MATCHUP

Wake Forest's offense vs. N.C. State's defense. Before an eight-turnover loss at Louisville, the Demon Deacons had scored at least 31 points in every game while generally avoiding self-inflicted mistakes. Still, they're 13th in Bowl Subdivision scoring with an average of 38.9 points per game. QB Sam Hartman is tied for sixth in the FBS with 22 touchdown passes, and he has a trio of matchup-winning targets in Donavon Greene, Jahmal Banks and A.T. Perry. The Wolfpack's veteran defense allows 308.6 yards (18th in FBS) and 17.4 points (tied for 12th).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Wake Forest: Banks. The wideout is tied for sixth in the FBS with an ACC-best eight TD catches.

N.C. State: QB MJ Morris. The first-year passer took over in the second half and led a comeback from a 21-3 deficit to beat Virginia Tech last week.

FACTS & FIGURES

N.C. State erased deficits of 14 and 18 points to win their last two home games over Florida State and Virginia Tech. ... The Wolfpack's 15 straight home wins are one shy of the program record set from 1972-75 under Lou Holtz. ... The home team has won the past three meetings. ... This is only the third meeting with both teams being ranked. Before last year, it had only happened in 1992. ... The teams have met every year since 1910. ... The Demon Deacons had just five turnovers on the season before losing four fumbles and throwing four interceptions in the Louisville loss. .. Banks, Perry and Greene have combined for 13 touchdown catches.

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