FACTS & STATS: Site: BB&T Field (31,500) -- Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: NC State 3-3, Wake Forest 4-1. Away Record: NC State 2-2, Wake Forest 2-3. Neutral Record: NC State 0-0, Wake Forest 0-0. Conference Record: NC State 3-3, Wake Forest 4-3. Series Record: NC State leads, 60-34-6.

GAME NOTES: The NC State Wolfpack's incredible late-season run makes a stop in Winston-Salem, for an ACC bout with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Since starting the season 1-5, NC State has gone on to win each of its last four games and is suddenly looking at the possibility of a bowl game. In order to do that, however, the Wolfpack will need to pick up wins this week against Wake Forest and next week at home against Maryland. First-year coach Tom O'Brien will not allow his players to peer that far into the future, however, preaching the importance of a one-game-at-a-time approach. While NC State has been red- hot of late, the Demon Deacons enter this game trying to snap a two-game slide. Wake Forest had won its previous six games, but the Deacs now find themselves trying to bounce back from last week's 34-point loss to Clemson. Wake Forest wraps up its schedule next weekend at Vanderbilt. In terms of the all-time series between these two schools, NC State holds a 60-34-6 advantage.

Reserve running back Jamelle Eugene stepped in for injured tailbacks Toney Baker and Andre Brown, and he came through with a huge day. Eugene finished with a career-high 159 rushing yards and three touchdowns, including the deciding score with less than two minutes remaining. After the game, coach O'Brien said he hasn't had any back in the last six or seven years give the kind of effort Eugene did. The Wolfpack certainly have not seen that kind of rushing performance this year, considering the team ranks 107th in the nation in rushing offense. In either case, the Wolfpack appear to be finally hitting their stride on offense. They are putting up an average of 28 points during the four-game win streak.

While the NC State offense gets the credit for putting enough points on the board to beat the rival North Carolina Tar Heels last weekend, it was the defense that sealed the win with a late stand deep in their own territory. UNC had a first-and-goal at the NC State seven-yard line with 20 seconds to play, but the Wolfpack forced incompletions on the first three plays, and cornerback Jimmie Sutton III came up with an interception on fourth down. It was a big stand for a defense that ranks at the bottom of the ACC in terms of total defense (11th, at 390.8 ypg) and scoring defense (26.4 ppg).

The once-profound Wake Forest offense has gone missing over the last two games. In their two-game slide, the Demon Deacons are putting up just 13 ppg, albeit on the road against formidable defenses in Virginia and Clemson. And with a season-opening loss to Boston College already under their belts, the fallout of those back-to-back back losses likely means the Demon Deacons can wave goodbye to their chances of hoisting the ACC crown for a second straight year. The Wake Forest ground game managed only 83 yards on 37 carries, while quarterback Riley Skinner threw for just 170 yards and an interception.

Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper threw for three touchdowns and ran for another against an outmatched Wake Forest defense last week. The Tigers scored on each of their first four possessions and jumped out to a 24-7 lead midway through the second quarter. The Wake Forest secondary has struggled in the passing game recently, as the Demon Deacons now find themselves with the conference's ninth-ranked pass defense. Still, the Wolfpack offensive line will need to keep tabs on Jeremy Thompson, who leads the Demon Deacons in tackles for loss and is tied for fifth in the conference with sacks. Chip Vaughn is averaging a team-best 9.3 tackles per game, which ranks seventh in the ACC.

The Wolfpack enter this contest with plenty of momentum and are trying to win out to secure a bowl invite, which only weeks ago seemed impossible. Meanwhile, the Demon Deacons will be playing with their backs to the wall, as they try to right the ship. Expect a hard-fought contest that likely will come down to a few big plays in the fourth quarter.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Wake Forest 28, NC State 24

Saturday, November 17th, 4:00 p.m. (et)