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Wake Forest at Florida StateWhere: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
Florida State has had a pair of glorified scrimmages as it prepares for Atlantic Coast Conference play against an opponent that has been a nemesis in recent years. It will be a battle of unbeatens Saturday when the No. 6 Seminoles host Wake Forest, which beat Florida State last season and has won four of the last six meetings between the schools. The Seminoles have barely broken a sweat in their first two games against FCS opponents, winning by a combined 124-3. The Demon Deacons had a shaky start to the season with a three-point win over Liberty, but opened some eyes by edging North Carolina in their conference opener.
ABOUT WAKE FOREST (2-0, 1-0 ACC): The Demon Deacons have had narrow escapes against Liberty (20-17) and North Carolina (28-27), coming from behind three times to beat the Tar Heels. Quarterback Tanner Price threw for a career-high 327 yards and ran for a pair of touchdowns last week. He has also developed great chemistry with wideout Michael Campanaro, who had 13 catches for 164 yards – both career highs – against North Carolina and has 22 receptions in two games. Wake needs to get its running game untracked after Josh Harris was held to 40 yards on 21 carries last week.
FLORIDA STATE (2-0): Senior quarterback EJ Manuel threw for three touchdowns before the game was seven minutes old as the Seminoles ran out to a 35-0 first-quarter lead over outmanned Savannah State in a game that was halted with 8:59 left in the third quarter because of severe weather. Manuel, who was 11-for-13 for for 161 yards and three touchdowns in a cameo appearance, estimated that Florida State has utilized only “3 percent” of the playbook thus far. Rodney Smith’s 61-yard touchdown catch extended his streak of at least one reception to 27 games. Florida State held Savannah State to 19 yards rushing.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Seminoles crushed Wake Forest 31-0 in its 2010 ACC opener, but the Demon Deacons have won two of the last three in Tallahassee.
2. Florida State has held 10 straight opponents to 19 points or fewer, matching the longest conference streak since the Seminoles accomplished the feat in 1998.
3. Harris ran for 136 yards against Florida State in 2011, the last back to crack 100 yards against the Seminoles.
PREDICTION: Florida State 34, Wake Forest 16
