SAM HARTMAN

Kenny Pickett accounted for three touchdowns and Erick Hallett II returned one of Pittsburgh’s four interceptions for a touchdown to help the No. 17 Panthers beat No. 18 Wake Forest 45-21 in Saturday night’s Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett and Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman entered the season with modest expectations.

Ty Chandler ran for career highs of 213 yards and four touchdowns and North Carolina overcame an 18-point deficit to beat No. 10 Wake Forest 58-55 on Saturday, handing the Demon Deacons their first loss in a nonconference matchup of instate Atlantic Coast Conference teams.

Nick Sciba kicked a 29-yard field goal with 22 seconds left and No. 24 Wake Forest beat Louisville 37-34 to remain unbeaten.

22 Wake Forest continues a lengthy stay at home when it takes on visiting North Carolina State on Saturday in an ACC matchup. ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (4-3, 1-2 ACC)The revolving door at quarterback for the Wolfpack has seen redshirt freshman Devin Leary burst through, and he will make his first career start Saturday. ABOUT WAKE FOREST (6-1, 2-1)Hartman was the starter last year before getting hurt and giving way to Newman, so there is no hesitation going with the North Carolina native. Wake Forest won the last two meetings, including a 27-23 triumph at N.C. State last year in which Newman threw a game-winning TD with 30 seconds left. PREDICTION: Wake Forest 35, North Carolina State 24

Sam Hartman #10 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons hands the ball to Matt Colburn #22 during the first half against the Tulane Green Wave on August 30, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. We really just focus on our defense getting stops, Wake Forest senior linebacker Justin Strnad, whose interception in the final seconds sealed the victory, told reporters afterward. Wake Forest was penalized just once for 15 yards in the season opener. Wake Forest fifth-year senior WR Kendall Hinton became the first player in program history to score a touchdown in five different seasons, catching the game-winning touchdown with 1:08 to play. PREDICTION: Wake Forest 36, Rice 14More college football scoresMore college football scoresCopyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

LINE: Wake Forest -3.5"It's hard for those guys to go through that every day," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson told reporters in explaining the decision. Senior linebacker Justin Strand led Wake Forest with 105 tackles a season ago while recording 8.5 tackles for loss. The Demon Deacons were picked to finish sixth in the Atlantic Division in the ACC preseason media poll. Wake Forest used 588 yards of total offense to beat Utah State 46-10 at home in 2017. PREDICTION: Wake Forest 34, Utah State 27More college football scoresCopyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.