COLLEGE STORYLINES: Oct. 31

N.C. STATE (3-4, 0-3 ACC) AT FLORIDA STATE (3-4, 1-3 ACC)

PREGAME CHATTER: N.C. State’s bye came at the right time last week. The Wolfpack suffered three straight losses prior to the bye. It remains to be seen whether the Wolfpack’s defense has improved. The unit allowed 103 points in its last two contests. N.C. State will face a Florida State squad that is under intense pressure to win with veteran coach Bobby Bowden. The Seminoles erased a big deficit in a victory over North Carolina last week.

WHAT IT MEANS: N.C. State needs to scratch, claw and play sound defense to earn its first ACC victory.

KICKOFF: Noon

TV/RADIO: WRAL-TV/WRAL-FM 101.5

ODDS: Florida St. by 9

WEATHER: 80 degrees, rain

DUKE (4-3, 2-1 ACC) AT VIRGINIA (3-4, 2-1 ACC)

PREGAME CHATTER: The Blue Devils are close to the top of the ACC standings after a good start in conference play. Virginia has played better than most expected. Duke’s last win in Charlottesville came in 1999.

WHAT IT MEANS: Both teams can bolster their conference rankings with a win today.

KICKOFF: 3:30 p.m.

RADIO: WDNC-AM 620

ODDS: Virginia by 7

WEATHER: 72 degrees, chance of rain

MIAMI (5-2, 2-2 ACC) AT WAKE FOREST (4-4, 2-2 ACC)

PREGAME CHATTER: Miami will have its own formula for winning today, but Wake Forest’s last opponent proved the Demon Deacons can be beaten without attempting a pass. That’s what Navy did in gaining 338 rushing yards in a 13-10 victory over Wake Forest last week. Wake Forest returns to ACC competition in need of a victory. Miami suffered a heartbreaking loss in overtime last week against Clemson.

WHAT IT MEANS: Both teams want to remove themselves from the middle of the pack in their respective divisions.

KICKOFF: 3:30 p.m.

TV/RADIO: ABC/WRMT-AM 1490

ODDS: Miami by 7

WEATHER: 70 degrees, chance of rain

N.C. WESLEYAN (5-2, 4-0 USA South) AT METHODIST (2-5, 1-3 USAS)

PREGAME CHATTER: The Battling Bishops are three victories away from a USA South Conference championship. N.C. Wesleyan owns a 3-2 record against Methodist.

WHAT IT MEANS: N.C. Wesleyan controls where it will finish in the USA South. A win today moves the Bishops one step closer to a trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

KICKOFF: 1 p.m.

WEATHER: 75 degrees, partly cloudy

— Jessie H. Nunery and Trevor Seibert