Notre Dame @ Wake Forest preview

THE STORY: Wake Forest returns home after back-to-back road games for its first meeting with Notre Dame. The Demon Deacons will be looking to rebound from a tough 49-24 setback at North Carolina last week, while the Fighting Irish are coming off a 56-14 rout of Navy.

TV: ABC, or ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. LINE: Notre Dame -13.5.

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (5-3): For better or worse, turnovers have defined the Fighting Irish during Brian Kelly's two seasons as coach. Notre Dame has a turnover margin of minus-18 in its eight losses over the last two seasons, including minus-10 in three setbacks this year. The Irish remain tied for 118th among 120 FBS teams in turnover margin (minus-1.38) through eight games in 2011. Running back Jonas Gray rushed for 69 yards and a career-best three touchdowns against Navy.

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (5-3): The Demon Deacons have been a middle-of-the-pack team in most statistical categories, but they boast two of the most dynamic players in the ACC. Wide receiver Chris Givens has caught 52 passes for 928 yards (seventh in FBS) and five touchdowns, while nose guard Nikita Whitlock ranks 10th in the nation with 12 sacks. Givens was held to 42 yards on six receptions last week.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Wake Forest's BB&T Field, with a seating capacity of 31,500, is the smallest venue to host a Notre Dame game since 1945, when the Irish played at Great Lakes (23,000).

2. Notre Dame has won its last 17 road games against first-time opponents, but the Irish have lost to a first-time foe at home in each of the last three seasons (2011, South Florida; 2010, Tulsa; 2009, Connecticut).

3. The Fighting Irish are 4-3 in night games under Brian Kelly and 20-22 at night since the start of the 1997 season.

PREDICTION: Notre Dame 34, Wake Forest 14 - The Fighting Irish should be able to move the ball almost at will against the Demon Deacons. If they can avoid costly giveaways - always a big if - they should win easily.