Tudor's take
Although old pro Dave Shinskie had a nice pitching day for Boston College last week, the Eagles' determination to run the ball was the real key to their overtime win over Wake.
By day's end, BC rushed 45 times for 170 yards. Combined with three Deacons turnovers, that was enough.
Even with Russell Wilson in top form and extending Wake's defensive edges, the Wolfpack will need something close to that same ground production from Toney Baker and Jamelle Eugene in order to begin ACC play with a win.
The big problem is that Jim Grobe has had a week to rattle cages along his defensive front. Although Maryland is up next, today is probably the key to Wake's entire season. Desperate Deacs, 23-21.
Observations
Pack's secondary concern
This will be the biggest test to date for an N.C. State secondary that has been shaky because of inexperience and injury.
Wake Forest senior quarterback Riley Skinner is renowned for his accuracy and has a standout receiver emerging in Marshall Williams. If safeties Brandan Bishop (a freshman) and Earl Wolff (redshirt freshman) leave Wake's receivers free in the middle of the field, Skinner will find them.
Deacons' 'D' vulnerable
Although Wake Forest leads the ACC in total offense at 412.2 yards per game, the young Deacons defense has been extremely vulnerable this season.
Opponents have completed 61.8 percent of their passes against the Deacons, who lost two of the best defensive players in their history (Aaron Curry and Alphonso Smith) to the NFL draft in the offseason.
Senior cornerback Brandon Ghee has picked up his game for the Deacons, but they need better play from linebackers Jonathan Jones, Matt Woodlief, Dominique Midgett and Hunter Haynes.
Player to watch
Audie Cole
N.C. State, So., LB, 6-5, 229
When first-year starter Cole is confident in what he's doing, he makes some big plays. He has 17 tackles, two sacks, two pass breakups and one fumble caused in four games. But when Cole is confused, opponents can take advantage of his indecisiveness at field linebacker. If an outside linebacker isn't sure of his assignments, he can look foolish against Wake Forest's well-designed misdirection plays.
By the numbers
NCSU | Wake | |
37.8 | scoring | 26.0 |
14.8 | scoring def. | 18.8 |
142.5 | avg. rush yds. | 162.8 |
76.0 | opp. avg. rush yds. | 137.5 |
263.5 | avg. pass yds. | 249.5 |
125.2 | opp. avg. pass yds. | 217.0 |
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If Wake Forest wants to extricate itself from the ACC's cellar, wins in its next two games would be a good place to start. 
Virginia coach Tony Bennett didn't need to call a single timeout. 
The first sentence of the foreword to "Duke Sucks," a newly released book that's jammed full of disdain for the Blue Devils basketball program, offers the following Tar Heel blue assertion: "The best thing about hating Duke University is that you never have to explain yourself." 
N.C. State will always have Wake Forest. Since 2006, that has been a good thing for State. The Pack beat the Demon Deacons 87-76 on Saturday for the fifth straight time and the ninth time in the past 12 games. 
At a time when the ACC buzz meter is relatively low in the two major sports, the league announced a scheduling policy Friday that will take another deep cut into its basketball popularity. Keep up with the latest sports stories with our free e-mail newsletters, delivered to your inbox!
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