Saturday’s area college football games to watch
GEORGIA STATE (0-3) AT APPALACHIAN STATE (2-2)
Kidd Brewer Stadium, Boone, 12 p.m.
The Mountaineers, preseason favorites to win the Sun Belt title, open conference play at home against the Panthers. …Appalachian State is coming off last week’s 45-38 win at Akron. … Georgia State pushed No. 9 Wisconsin to the limit, leading 17-13 in the fourth quarter before losing 23-17 Sept. 17. ...Mountaineers running backs Jalin Moore and Marcus Cox are third and fourth in the Sun Belt in rushing with 405 and 278 yards, respectively.
Bill Kiser
CENTRAL FLORIDA (2-2-0-0) AT EAST CAROLINA (2-2-0-0)
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, 12 p.m.
After two straight losses, East Carolina enters American Athletic Conference play. ... Central Florida has held three of its first four opponents to under 150 yards passing. But East Carolina is among the best. ... The key could be the turnover battle. ECU has struggled there in recent weeks. ... Adrian Killians leads Central Florida in rushing yards with a 15.1 rushing average. He broke an 87 yard touchdown earlier this year. ECU struggled last week against Virginia Tech, allowing a 55-yard run.
Jonathan M. Alexander
VIRGINIA (1-3, 0-0 ACC) AT DUKE (2-2, 0-1), WBTV
Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham
With home games against Virginia and Army, the Blue Devils are positioned for a winning streak. ... The Blue Devils insist there will be no letdown after the big win at Notre Dame last week, but the loss of safety DeVon Edwards to a season-ending knee injury will be felt at some point. ... Former Charlotte Latin quarterback Daniel Jones is showing more mastery of the offense, and Duke’s defense, while allowing 35 points at Notre Dame, led FBS in sacks with 17 after four games. ... Virginia has lost 17 straight on the road since 2012.
Chip Alexnder
STETSON (1-2, 0-1 PIONEER) AT DAVIDSON (2-2, 0-1)
Richardson Stadium, Davidson, 1 p.m.
The Wildcats host the Hatters in a Pioneer Football League game, with one team walking away with their first conference win this season. … It’s homecoming for Davidson, which leads the series 4-3, with its win against Stetson in last year’s season finale that ended the Wildcats’ 24-game conference losing streak. … Both lost their PFL opener last week – Davidson against Valparaiso 24-20, the Hatters to Jacksonville 24-7.
B.K.
WAKE FOREST (4-0, 1-0 ACC) AT N.C. STATE (2-1, 0-0)
Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, 3:30 p.m., Fox Sports South
The Deacons, off to their best start in 10 years, put their undefeated record up against the Wolfpack. … N.C. State has won the past two games against Wake Forest, and leads the series against their in-state rival 65-38-6, including a 20-5 record at Carter-Finley. …The Deacons are one of 15 teams nationally (and three in the ACC) to enter the weekend with 4-0 records.
B.K.
NORTH CAROLINA (3-1, 1-0 ACC) AT NO. 12 FLORIDA STATE (3-1, 0-1)
Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla., 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Another week, another significant test for the Tar Heels’ beleaguered run defense. This time it comes against Florida State’s Dalvin Cook, who averages 124 rushing yards and 6.3 yards per carry. ...The Seminoles are loaded just about everywhere else, too -- and their defensive line could pose problems for a UNC running game that has been slow to get going. ... The Tar Heels are seeking their first road win against a top-15 opponent since a 2001 win at No. 13 Clemson. Since, UNC has lost nine consecutive road games against top-15 teams.
Andrew Carter
NO. 9 TEXAS A&M (4-0, 2-0 SEC) AT SOUTH CAROLINA (2-2, 1-2)
Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, 4 p.m., SEC Network
The Gamecocks begin a five-game homestand against the Aggies, the SEC Western Division front-runner. ...South Carolina has lost its past two SEC games, to Mississippi State on Sept. 10 and Kentucky last week. ...Texas A&M has won its two previous games against the Gamecocks. ...Last season, the teams combined for 989 yards in a 35-28 Aggies win.
B.K.
OLD DOMINION (2-2, 1-0 C-USA) AT CHARLOTTE (1-3, 0-0)
Richardson Stadium, 6 p.m.
The 49ers open Conference USA play. ...Charlotte has lost its past two games, to Eastern Michigan (37-19) on Sept. 17 and to Temple (48-20) last week. ...Old Dominion won its C-USA opener last week, beating Texas-San Antonio 33-19. ...The Monarchs and 49ers are 1-2 among C-USA teams in turnover margin at plus-6 and plus-2, respectively.
B.K.
JOHNSON C. SMITH (1-3, 1-0 CIAA) AT CHOWAN (3-1, 1-0)
Garrison Stadium, Murfreesboro, 6 p.m.
Division front-runners meet when the Golden Bulls visit the Hawks. ...It’s the first game between the two teams since 2009, when Chowan won 33-22. In 2008, Johnson C. Smith won 51-36. ... The Golden Bulls beat Elizabeth City State 31-28 last week, snapping a four-game losing streak. … Chowan is tied for the Northern Division lead, while Johnson C. Smith is in a three-way tie atop the Southern Division.
B.K.
BENEDICT (3-1) AT GARDNER-WEBB (1-3)
Spangler Stadium, Boiling Springs, 6 p.m.
The Bulldogs close out their nonconference schedule Saturday, hosting the Tigers, a Division II team. … Gardner-Webb enters on a three-game losing streak, including last week’s 37-21 loss at Ohio. … Benedict has won its past two games, both against SIAC teams. … GWU running back Khalil Lewis leads the Big South in rushing yards (410) and touchdowns (six).
B.K.
NO. 3 LOUISVILLE (4-0, 2-0 ACC) AT NO. 5 CLEMSON (4-0, 1-0)
Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C., 8 p.m., ABC
Control of the ACC’s Atlantic Division (and its berth in the ACC championship game) is on the line. …Clemson won their previous two games against the Cardinals, 20-17 last year and 23-17 in 2014. … Game will feature quarterback matchup between potential Heisman Trophy candidates, Louisville Lamar Jackson and Clemson’s Deshaun Watson.
B.K.
This story was originally published September 30, 2016 at 4:42 PM with the headline "Saturday’s area college football games to watch."