Wake Forest (6-3, 3-2 ACC) at No. 5 Louisville (8-1, 6-1, No. 6 CFP), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Line: Louisville by 34½.
Series record: Louisville leads 3-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Bowl-eligible Wake Forest seeks its first win over a ranked team since 2011 against No. 22 Florida State and first top-five win since topping Tennessee in 1946. Louisville seeks its fifth straight ACC win and can cap its best league mark in just its third season as a league member. The Cardinals pursue another decisive victory in hopes of rejoining the national title discussion.
KEY MATCHUP
Louisville QB Lamar Jackson vs. Wake Forest’s defense. Jackson bolstered his Heisman Trophy-leading resume with seven more touchdowns in last week’s 52-7 win at Boston College and has 45 TDs this season. He leads the nation’s top offense in yardage (593.4) and scoring (50.2 points per game) but faces a Demon Deacons unit that’s second in the ACC in scoring (18.4) and tied for fourth in sacks (3.0). DE Duke Ejiofor (eight sacks) and LB Marquel Lee (five) are tied for 12th nationally with 13 tackles for loss each.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wake Forest: S Jessie Bates III. The redshirt freshman has five interceptions and returned one 39 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the Demon Deacons’ 27-20 victory over Virginia last week, his second pick-six this season. He’s second in the ACC in INTs and tackles for freshman with 63.
Louisville: TE Cole Hikutini’s 35 receptions are tied for the team lead and he’s third in receiving TDs (five) and yardage with 500.
FACTS & FIGURES
Wake Forest ranks eighth nationally in penalty yards with just 36.56 per game. … Louisville has won eight straight at home dating back to last season. … The Cardinals weren’t penalized at Boston College, the first game they haven’t been flagged since 1979. … Louisville’s first win over Wake Forest came in the 2007 Orange Bowl. … Cardinals co-offensive coordinator Lonnie Galloway was a Wake Forest assistant during the 2011-12 seasons.
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