1) No. 3 Florida State at N.C. State, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)

The Seminoles (5-0) make their first trip outside the state of Florida. N.C. State (3-2) won its last home game against FSU (28-24 in 2010) and its last game against a top 10 team (Clemson in 2011).

2) Virginia Tech at UNC, 12:30 p.m. (WRAL)

The Tar Heels (3-2) have out-scored their first three opponents, 155-7, at Kenan Stadium. Despite all of Virginia Tech’s problems, namely running the football, the Hokies (3-2) are still a major upgrade from Elon, ECU and Idaho.

3) Georgia Tech at Clemson, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

The Yellow Jackets (3-2) have owned Clemson (4-1) under coach Dabo Swinney, with four wins in the past five meetings, including last year’s 31-17 win in Atlanta.

Number to know

15-2 Virginia Tech’s record in Coastal Division road games, including a 3-0 mark at UNC.

Observations

•  Maybe if Miami pretends Notre Dame is an ACC team, the Hurricanes will find a way to beat the Fighting Irish, too.

Miami’s 3-0 in the ACC, with a 42.3 scoring average, despite all of its problems on defense. Outside the ACC, the Canes have a 52-13 loss to Kansas State and a win over a Division I-AA team.

Notre Dame’s defense has led the program’s resurgence in Brian Kelly’s third season. Notre Dame has given up an average of 9.0 points per game, and held Michigan and Michigan State without a touchdown in consecutive wins.

•  Duke has started 4-1 by winning the games it was supposed to and/or was capable of, and Virginia (2-3) fits that category. The Cavaliers have lost three straight since a 2-0 start. Depressing stat for Virginia fans: Three of David Cutcliffe’s seven ACC wins are against the Cavaliers.

•  How bad is Georgia Tech’s defense? Middle Tennessee scored 21 points in its loss to McNeese State in the season opener, yet found a way to score 49 against the Yellow Jackets last week.

Georgia Tech gave up 42 points, in overtime, to Miami the previous week. That can’t be a good sign for today’s trip to Clemson, which scored 37 points against Florida State’s stout defense.