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Florida State looking to end slide against Wake Forest

Sep 20, 2008 - 10:09 AM No. 18 Wake Forest (2-0) at No. 25 Florida St (2-0), 7:00 pm EDT

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Ticker) -- Florida State has endured three straight mediocre seasons, but the 25th-ranked Seminoles have a chance to make an early statement Saturday when they host No. 18 Wake Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.

After winning 14 straight games against Wake Forest, Florida State has dropped its last two contests against the Demon Deacons, who embarrassed the Seminoles, 30-0, in their last visit to Doak Campbell Stadium in 2006.

Saturday's contest is the first ACC game this season involving a pair of top-25 teams. Florida State climbed into the coaches' poll after routing Chattanooga, 46-7, last week.

However, the Seminoles (2-0, 0-0 ACC Atlantic) have been hardly tested, as their first two wins have come against opponents from the Football Championship Subdivision. Florida State opened with a 69-0 drubbing of Western Carolina.

The Seminoles are second in the Football Bowl Subdivision in scoring, but Saturday's contest will be their first this season against an FBS school.

Wake Forest's defense rates several notches above the two Southern Conference teams Florida State pounded into submission. Seminoles offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher estimates that six players from the Demon Deacons' defense will be taken in next year's NFL draft.

"They don't make mistakes, but they are physically gifted," Fisher told the Tallahassee Democrat. "It's not the Wake of old."

In their back-to-back wins over Florida State, the Demon Deacons forced six interceptions and allowed a combined 396 yards passing.

Wake Forest (2-0, 0-0 ACC Atlantic) was severely tested in its last game against Mississippi on September 6, but escaped with a 30-28 victory as Sam Swank kicked a 41-yard field goal with three seconds remaining.

Riley Skinner, who completed 32-of-43 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns, led the Demon Deacons on a 56-yard drive in the last minute to set up Swank's winning kick.

With a win Saturday, Wake Forest will join Clemson as one of two ACC teams with active three-game winning streaks over the Seminoles.

Florida State's Bobby Bowden (375-119-4) will coach his 499th game Saturday. He remains tied with Penn State's Joe Paterno for the most career wins among coaches in the FBS.