It’ll be a battle of unbeatens in Raleigh on Saturday, but not all unbeatens are created equal. No. 1 Florida State will travel to face unranked North Carolina State in what many are expecting to be a lopsided affair.
How to watch Florida State vs. NC State: Game guide, TV/streaming, odds
Can the Wolfpack pull off the stunner and stay undefeated?
Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Two of the Seminoles' three victories this season have been close: a 37-31 season-opening win against Oklahoma State and a 23-17 overtime win against Clemson. Even their most lopsided score, a 37-12 win over FCS team The Citadel, wasn't up to the blowout standards set by last year's national champion squad. The good news for Florida State? Heisman-winning quarterback Jameis Winston is back, and should play a big role in this one.
NC State’s 4-0 start may sound surprising after Dave Doeren’s 3-9 debut season, but it’s played one of the weakest schedules in the country. The Wolfpack claim close victories over Georgia Southern and Old Dominion and blowouts over South Florida and Presbyterian.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC or ESPN2
Online streaming: WatchESPN
The numbers
Rankings and records: Florida State is ranked No. 1 in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll. NC State is not ranked in either poll. The Seminoles are 3-0, with a 1-0 conference record putting them on top of their division. The Wolfpack are 4-0, with this being their conference opener. Florida State holds a 22-11 lead in the all-time series.
Vegas: Florida State opened as a 23-point favorite. The line is now 19. The over/under is 58.5.
Weather forecast: Mostly sunny, with a high of 79 and a low of 60.
Two things at stake
A blowout win for Florida State would help alleviate concerns from its two close victories.
A win for NC State would be gigantic for Dave Doeren, who had a terrible time of things in his first year with the program.
One big matchup
Jacoby Brissett vs. Florida State secondary. The former Florida quarterback is plenty familiar with the Seminoles, but facing them with NC State's offensive line and wide receivers is a different task. Brissett has played well this season, completing 69.7 percent of his passes for 8.4 yards per attempt and 10 touchdowns (against just one interception). He's also averaging 5.1 yards per rush with a score.
Florida State has at times struggled defensively against dual-threat quarterbacks this season. Oklahoma State's J.W. Walsh totaled three touchdowns against the Seminoles, averaging 7.5 yards per throw, while Clemson true freshman Deshaun Watson averaged 9.5 yards per pass and ran for a touchdown against Florida State, winning the starting job in the process.
Further reading
For full coverage of Florida State, check out Tomahawk Nation. For more on NC State, head over to Backing the Pack.
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