First look: NC State football hits the road to Wake Forest for a Week 11 ACC game
Wake Forest looked like it was in control with minutes remaining in its contest against Duke but ultimately lost, 24-21, on a last-play field goal. N.C. State iced its upset over Miami, intercepting a pass with one second left.
The Wolfpack looked on track for an abysmal season after its own loss against the Blue Devils on Oct. 14. Instead, it turned things around in the last couple of weeks.
N.C. State is the favorite to win against Wake Forest this Saturday, with the Demon Deacons ranking near the bottom of the conference in most statistical categories. Wake’s strengths, however, come via discipline.
Wake Forest ranks No. 1 in the ACC for fewest penalties (37), fewest penalties per game (4.11) and fewest penalty yards per game (38.44). Meanwhile, the Wolfpack is in the middle of the league for penalties.
The Wolfpack leads the series, 68-42-6, winning two of the last three contests, all of which were decided by 10 points or fewer. In 2020 and 2021, the games were decided by a field goal.
If N.C. State can put together a performance remotely similar to what it has in recent weeks, though, it wouldn’t be surprising for the program to pick up another win.
Key matchup: Demond Claiborne vs. NC State D
The Demon Deacons might be toward the bottom of the ACC, but like any team, it has a few key playmakers. Demond Claiborne remains one of the top offensive players for Wake that the Wolfpack will need to stop.
Claiborne recorded 574 rushing yards and five touchdowns through the team’s first nine games. He added 235 kickoff return yards, including a return touchdown against Virginia Tech.
The sophomore running back ranks No. 6 in the league for all purpose yards, averaging 93.8 yards per game.
He contributed 81 rushing yards and 58 on kickoff returns in the team’s last-second loss to Duke, as well.
N.C. State, however, features three of the ACC’s top tacklers in Payton Wilson, Jaylon Scott and Sean Brown. The trio contributed 214 tackles. Wilson notched a season-high 16 tackles against Miami.
Three different players in the secondary added interceptions against the Hurricanes.
When facing a defense that held Louisville to 20 yards on the ground and didn’t allow Miami to find the end zone, Claiborne has a big task ahead.
Vegas betting odds
The Wolfpack are favored by 3 points with the over-under at 45 points for Saturday’s game at Wake Forest.
NC State at Wake Forest game and TV info
Teams: N.C. State Wolfpack (6-3, 3-2 ACC) vs. Wake Forest (4-5, 1-5 ACC)
Where: Allegacy Stadium, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Date: Saturday, Nov. 11
Time: 2 p.m.
TV: The CW
Stream: DIRECTV, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV
