FACTS & STATS: Site: Carter-Finley Stadium (57,082) -- Raleigh, North Carolina. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: Wake Forest 4-1, NC State 2-3. Away Record: Wake Forest 2-2, NC State 1-3. Neutral Record: Wake Forest 0-0, NC State 0-0. Conference Record: Wake Forest 4-2, NC State 1-4. Series Record: NC State leads, 60-35-6.

GAME NOTES: The Wake Forest Demon Deacons continue their quest for an Atlantic Coast Conference title when they travel to Raleigh to take on the NC State Wolfpack. Wake Forest will be in search of a third straight win after knocking off Virginia, 28-17, last weekend. The Demon Deacons share the lead atop the conference's Atlantic Division with the Florida State Seminoles, whom Wake beat earlier in the year. Following this tilt, the Deacs close out their schedule with home games against Boston College and Vanderbilt. NC State also enters this game riding high from last weekend's 27-17 win at Duke. The win snapped a three-game slide for the Wolfpack. It was also the team's first conference victory of the season. In terms of the all-time series between these two schools, NC State holds a 60-35-6 edge over Wake Forest.

Wake's leading rusher Josh Adams is questionable with an ankle injury. However, freshman Brandon Pendergrass stepped in last week and ran for a career-high 110 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Riley Skinner (14-of-20, 130 yds, two TD) did most of his damage early on, spotting the Demon Deacons an early 14-0 lead with two first-quarter touchdown passes. Wake led 28-3 at the half, then used a heavy dose of Pendergrass to sit on the lead. Skinner has been more of a game manager-type quarterback, as he is completing 63.8 percent of his passes while averaging 189.6 yards per game. His primary option in the passing game has been DJ Boldin, who has caught a team-high 55 passes for 556 yards. Still, this unit ranks 103rd in the nation in total offense (305 ypg) and is averaging only 20.33 points per game. The key for Skinner is avoiding turnovers, which he has done a pretty decent job of, with just four interceptions on the season. Kicker Sam Swank is questionable with a quadriceps injury, which could factor into the coaching staff's decision- making as the team moves into field goal range.

While the offense has sputtered for much of the season, the Deacs are in the position they are, in large part, because of the defense. Currently, the team ranks 20th in the nation in scoring defense (18.22 ppg) and 31st in total defense (313 ypg). Senior safety supplied the dagger against Virginia, returning an interception 53 yards to put Wake on top, 28-3 in the final minutes of the first half. It was one of three interceptions for the defense, which also recovered a fumble in the win. The D forced the Cavaliers to become one-dimensional by holding them to just 28 rushing yards for the game. Once that happened, the Deacs were able to capitalize on a few turnovers. The defense was also able to get off the field, as they held Virginia to 2-of-11 on third downs en route to a 14-minute advantage in time of possession.

For much of the season, the Wolfpack have struggled to move the ball on offense. They enter this week with the nation's 105th-ranked offense (301 ypg) and are scoring only 20.22 points per game. And while they didn't exactly light up the scoreboard in Saturday's 27-17 win over Duke, there was reason to be optimistic. Redshirt freshman Russell Wilson threw for 218 yards and two TDs (both in the first half), while Jamelle Eugene carried 11 times for 92 yards. Most importantly, the offense established some momentum early by scoring on its first four possessions. That set the tone on both sides of the ball for the Wolfpack, who had watched fourth-quarter leads evaporate in each of their last three games.

The defense welcomed back junior linebacker Nate Irving against Duke. Coach Tom O'Brien feels Irving (7.2 tackles per game, three INT) is his best player on defense, and his return provided a sense of comfort -- and confidence -- for the rest of the defense. The Wolfpack certainly played that way, as they came up with four stops on fourth down. Although they didn't come away with any turnovers, the Wolfpack defense did its part by holding strong in the second half, while the offense quieted down. It was the type of effort coach O'Brien hopes his team can build on in the final weeks of the season. They currently rank last in the ACC in total defense (413 ypg) and scoring defense (28.67 ppg).

Had they not blown so many fourth-quarter leads, the Wolfpack could easily be a six-win team right now. But what's done is done, and they can only hope to learn from their mistakes, which they seemed to do against Duke. But now, they'll run into a Wake Forest defense that isn't so accommodating.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Wake Forest 27, NC State 13

Saturday, November 15th, 3:30 p.m. (et).