Top-ranked Florida State is coming off of its best offensive performance of the season with a 56-41 win over N.C. State. The Seminoles are off to a 4-0 start for a third straight season as they return home to take on 2-3 Wake Forest on Saturday.
Florida State routed Wake Forest 59-3 in Winston-Salem last season and this year’s team for Wake Forest actually looks to have less talent.
Under first-year head coach Dave Clawson, the 2014 season got off to a rough start for the Demon Deacons, but they have managed to show gradual improvement. After losses at Louisiana-Monroe and Utah State over the first three weeks, Wake Forest earned its first victory against a FBS opponent two weeks ago against Army. At Louisville last week, the Demon Deacons took a lead into the fourth quarter before falling to the Cardinals 20-10.
The strength for Wake Forest thus far has been the defense. Linebacker Brandon Chubb leads the ACC in tackles this season with 39 while safety Ryan Janvion ranks third in the conference with 37 stops.
The defense for the Demon Deacons will need to be on its A-game against a Florida State offense that looks to be hitting its stride. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston passed for 365 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s victory over N.C. State while running back Karlos Williams and wide receiver Jesus Wilson each had career-days.
Williams finished with career-highs of 126 yards rushing and three touchdowns in the victory. Wilson caught six passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns — all career-bests.
For the third time in four games this past week, senior wide receiver Rashad Greene was named ACC Receiver of the Week. Greene finished with 11 catches for 125 yards and the touchdown that put the Seminoles ahead for good against N.C. State. The senior leads the ACC with 543 yards receiving this season.
While the Florida State offense put up a new season-high with 533 yards and 56 points, the Seminole defense had its worst game since perhaps 2010 as the Wolfpack gashed the ‘Noles for 41 points and 520 yards of offense. The 41 points was the most allowed for Florida State in a victory since 2009.
The good news for the Florida State defense is that it will be facing a Wake Forest team that ranks last in the ACC in points-per-game and dead last in the country in terms of rushing.
Wake Forest freshman quarterback John Wolford has put up respectable yardage numbers, but has thrown 10 interceptions in five games.
Touted as one of the best secondaries in the country, Florida State has not picked off a pass since the first half of the season-opener against Oklahoma State. Despite a bad week for the secondary in Raleigh, safety Jalen Ramsey had a monster game with 10 tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles.
FSU looks to potentially be a healthier group defensively on Saturday as defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. is likely to return to the lineup after missing last week’s game with a concussion. With Edwards out against N.C. State, Goldman starred for the Florida State defensive front for a second straight week, recording seven tackles and a sack.
The Seminoles will look to notch their third straight victory over Wake Forest and their 21st in a row overall. Florida State has outscored the Demon Deacons 111-3 over the last two seasons.
FSU has shut out Wake Forest in each of its last two trips to Tallahassee. The Seminoles won 52-0 in 2012 and 31-0 in 2010. In fact, Wake Forest has not scored a touchdown in Tallahassee since 2006 when it became the first team to blank Florida State in 33 years, winning 30-0 en route to an ACC championship.
Though the Seminoles have dominated the match-up in recent years, Wake Forest is 4-4 in its last eight match-ups with Florida State. The last victory for Wake came in 2011 in Winston-Salem by a 35-30 margin.
Saturday’s contest in Tallahassee will be the third of four straight match-ups against Atlantic division opponents for Florida State. The game will be televised regionally on ABC. Kickoff is set for after 3:30 P.M. eastern time.
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