No. 25 NC State looks to finish strong against Wake Forest

Posted November 16, 2017 6:00 am

The Associated Press

No. 25 North Carolina State (7-3, 5-1 ACC, CFP No. 19) at Wake Forest (6-4, 3-3), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU)

Line: Wake Forest by 2.

Series record: N.C. State leads 66-38-6.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

The Wolfpack need to win their final two games and their bowl game to become the second 10-win team in program history. They're also chasing their version of a state championship - with North Carolina up next - against a Wake Forest team trying to beat a Top 25 opponent in the regular season for the first time under fourth-year coach Dave Clawson.

KEY MATCHUP

Wake Forest pass rush vs. N.C. State offensive line. The Wolfpack have protected QB Ryan Finley well, allowing an average of 1.1 sacks to lead the ACC and rank 11th nationally. The Demon Deacons have been good at pressuring opposing QBs - they sacked Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson six times - and rank third in the league with 2.5 sacks per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

N.C. State: DE Bradley Chubb averages a sack per game and leads the FBS in tackles for a loss with 22ˆ½, and last week set the school's career records with 57ˆ½ tackles for losses and 26 sacks.

Wake Forest: QB John Wolford is the frontman for an offense that rolled up the first 700-yard game in school history, a 734-yard performance in last week's come-from-behind victory at Syracuse. Wolford accounted for six touchdowns - three passing, three rushing.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Wolfpack have won only once in Winston-Salem since Philip Rivers was under center, but that victory came two years ago in their last visit. Home teams are 17-3 in the series over the last two decades. ... A win would give N.C. State six ACC victories for the first time since 1994. The Wolfpack have never won seven ACC games in a season. ... Wolford and Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield are the only two Power Five quarterbacks with at least 2,000 yards passing and 20 touchdowns and no more than five interceptions.

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More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_Top25

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