NC State @ Wake Forest preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 13, 2010 ) Wake Forest 3, North Carolina State 38

THE STORY: N.C. State wants its defense to do a lot less bending, and Wake Forest needs its defense to avoid another late breakdown when the in-state rivals meet for the 102nd consecutive year at BB&T Field. The Wolfpack opened the season with a 43-21 home win against Liberty, while Wake Forest lost in overtime, 36-29, at Syracuse. The Wolfpack's defense allowed a whopping 406 total yards but only one offensive touchdown as it forced seven turnovers, tying a school record. The Demon Deacons blew a 15-point lead in the final 11:02 of regulation before losing in overtime. N.C. State leads the all-time series 62-36-6 and blew out the Demon Deacons, 38-3, last year in Raleigh, N.C. But N.C. State has lost in its last four trips to Winston-Salem and seven of its last eight. The Wolfpack's last win at Wake Forest was in 2001.


TV: Fox Sports Carolinas. LINE: N.C. State -2.5

ABOUT N.C. STATE (1-0): Quarterback Mike Glennon's first collegiate start went well enough; he completed 18 of 31 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown without being intercepted. Glennon got an assist from the running game, as Curtis Underwood rushed for 114 yards on 14 carries to become the first N.C. State back to top 100 yards since 2009. James Washington added 67 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. N.C. State will be without running back Mustafa Greene and defensive tackles J.R. Sweezy and Thomas Teal, who are nursing foot injuries.

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (0-1): The Demon Deacons' late collapse last week wasn't all on the defense. The offense faltered after quarterback Tanner Price left the game with a knee injury. Price, who was 18 for 31 for 289 yards and three touchdowns, will start Saturday. Price had two clear favorite targets last week. Chris Givens caught seven passes for a career-high 170 yards and two touchdowns, and Michael Campanaro set career-highs with seven catches for 80 yards and a touchdown.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wake Forest kicker Jimmy Newman had his streak of 13 consecutive made field goals, a school record, snapped when he missed a 34-yard try last week. Newman also missed a PAT attempt, ending his streak of 67 straight, the second-longest streak in school history.

2. N.C. State is one of only two FBS teams starting true freshmen at kicker and punter (Colorado is the other). The Wolfpack also starts a true freshman at long snapper.

3. Both teams' coaches are one game above .500 at their current schools. Tom O'Brien is 26-25 in his fifth year with the Wolfpack, and Jim Grobe is 62-61 in his 11th season with the Demon Deacons.

PREDICTION: Wake Forest 23, N.C. State 20 — The Demon Deacons won't make the mistakes that bailed out N.C. State's porous defense against Liberty.