Saturday’s area college football lineup features these games to watch
N.C. STATE (2-1, 0-0 ACC) at No. 12 FLORIDA STATE (0-1, 0-0)
Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla., noon, WSOC-TV
The Seminoles haven’t played in three weeks, since starting quarterback Deondre Francois suffered a season-ending injury. That means freshman James Blackman starts against N.C. State’s very talented defensive front.
BOSTON COLLEGE (1-2, 0-1 ACC) at No. 2 CLEMSON (3-0, 1-0)
Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C., 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
After beating two straight tough foes, Clemson finds itself favored by more than 30 points. The Tigers hope to slow down the Eagles’ Harold Landry, who led FBS in sacks last season.
DUKE (3-0, 0-0 ACC) at NORTH CAROLINA (1-2, 0-1)
Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU
The Blue Devils’ tough defensive line will pose a threat for Tar Heels quarterback Chazz Surratt. Duke is not just a passing team, as Shaun Wilson (184 yards rushing against Baylor) showed last week.
WAKE FOREST (3-0) at APPALACHIAN STATE (2-1)
Kidd-Brewer Stadium, Boone, 3:30 p.m.
Deacons quarterback John Wolford has six touchdowns and no interceptions, and Wake Forest is 14-for-14 in the red zone. ...The Mountaineers’ defense was shaky in last week’s victory over Texas State. ... After this game, Wake Forest’s opponents are (in order) Florida State, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Louisville and Notre Dame.
LOUISIANA TECH (2-1) at SOUTH CAROLINA (2-1)
Williams-Brice Stadium, 3:30 p.m., SEC Network
The Gamecocks own a 5-0-1 advantage over Louisiana Tech, but the teams haven’t played in 22 years. It’s Week One of life without receiver Deebo Samuel (broken leg) for South Carolina. Louisiana Tech has an explosive offense but gave up 57 points to Mississippi State.
GEORGIA STATE (0-2) at CHARLOTTE (0-3)
Richardson Stadium, 6 p.m., WCCB-TV
The visiting Panthers got a 100-yard rushing game in last week’s 56-0 loss to Penn State from Taz Bateman. This is a rematch of the 49ers’ firstFBS game – a 23-20 victory over Georgia State in 2015 at the Georgia Dome.
J.C. SMITH (0-3, 0-0 CIAA) at ELIZABETH CITY STATE (0-0, 2-1)
Roebuck Stadium, Elizabeth City, 6 p.m.
The Golden Bulls’ ground game has struggled, but Elizabeth City State has allowed more than 210 rushing yards a game. Quarterback Daquan Neal, third in the CIAA in total offense, leads the Vikings’ attack.
GARDNER-WEBB (0-3) at No. 9 WOFFORD (2-0)
Gibbs Stadium, Spartanburg, 1:30 p.m.
Opponents have shut down Gardner-Webb’s big-play offense this season. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs must shut down a powerful triple-option attack that has lifted Wofford into a top-10 FCS ranking.
WESTERN ILLINOIS (2-0) at COASTAL CAROLINA (1-1)
Brooks Stadium, Conway, S.C., 6:30 p.m.
The Chanticleers blocked three kicks in last week’s 30-23 loss at Ala.-Birmingham. ...These teams played twice previously, and each game was decided in the final minute.
This story was originally published September 22, 2017 at 4:39 PM with the headline "Saturday’s area college football lineup features these games to watch."