Florida State @ Wake Forest preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 4, 2014 ) Wake Forest 3, Florida State 43

Florida State's defense looks to continue its domination of Wake Forest when the No. 9 Seminoles visit the Demon Deacons on Saturday, and could be even hungrier after enjoying last week off. Florida State is ranked sixth in the country in points allowed (10 per game) and eighth in total defense (256.3 yards), and it appears 6-7, 229-pound defensive end Lorenzo Featherston - coming off a promising freshman season - will return after missing the first three games because of a knee injury.

Florida State, which leads the series 26-6-1 and has won three straight meetings by a combined 154-6, tries for its 26th consecutive ACC victory. The Seminoles are led by sophomore running back Dalvin Cook (476 yards, five touchdowns), who is fourth in the nation at 158.7 rushing yards per game. Sophomore quarterback John Wolford (ankle) did not play in Wake Forest's 31-24 loss to Indiana last week after missing most of the previous contest - a 17-14 victory over Army, but has since returned to limited practice. "When John (Wolford) is healthy, he will be our starting quarterback,'' Demon Deacons coach Dave Clawson said at his weekly press conference. " I think if John is 70 percent or 80 percent, then (freshman quarterback) Kendall (Hinton) gives us our best shot to win. ..."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Florida State -19.5

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (3-0, 0-0 ACC): The Seminoles begin ACC play with an efficient, if not spectacular, offense which has committed a total of one turnover in its first three games for the first time in school history. Quarterback Everett Golson has completed 64 percent of his passes with six touchdowns, but only one in the first half. All-American Jalen Ramsey was named ACC Defensive Back of the Week for the second straight time after returning a fumble 36 yards for a touchdown in a 14-0 victory at Boston College on Sept. 18 - its first road shutout since a 37-0 decision over Notre Dame in 2003.

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (2-2, 0-1): Hinton, who was 19-of-46 against Indiana, brings an extra element to the offense by recording team highs of 170 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. The Demon Deacons are also off to a good start defensively, permitting 294.3 yards per game - 19th in the nation. Leading the way is senior linebacker Brandon Chubb, who has registered team bests of 36 tackles including 18 solo.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Florida State will be without junior RB Mario Pender, who suffered a collapsed lung during practice last week.

2. Ninety-three of Wake Forest's 99 points have been scored by freshmen or sophomores.

3. The Seminoles yield 116.3 passing yards - fourth-best in the nation - while Ramsey has broken up five passes.

PREDICTION: Florida State 41, Wake Forest 3