ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE Struggling N.C. State plays host to 'Noles

The Wolfpack have lost three straight games.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- North Carolina State has the most turnovers in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Florida State is among the conference leaders in takeaways.
Not exactly what a coach wants to hear as he tries to pull his team out of a three-game losing streak.
"Things don't look good for the ol' Wolfpack," N.C. State coach Chuck Amato said. "But so what? We are going to do everything we can. We've been in difficult places before."
That they have. The last time the Wolfpack (4-5, 3-4 ACC) had a losing skid this long was 2002, when they snapped it with their second straight victory over Florida State. Both came under Amato, an assistant with the Seminoles for 18 years.
Wolfpack linebacker Pat Thomas hopes whatever advantage Amato might have in the series keeps working tonight (ESPN) against No. 11 Florida State.
"I know Chuck is familiar with all those guys over there, and I would hope we have an edge," Thomas said. "It's always an edge playing somebody your coach has coached for."
FSU no longer superior
The superiority Florida State (7-2, 5-2) enjoyed in the ACC probably is gone forever, and not just because Miami and Virginia Tech joined this season. The Seminoles only lost two games in their first nine years in the conference, but now have dropped six in the past four seasons.
The Hurricanes also have two ACC losses in their inaugural season.
"It's great for the conference," Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said. "It's going to make our history book a lot better. Miami, their first year in there, and they've suffered two losses, one at home. It took us a while to suffer. They're suffering pretty quick."
Bowden is changing starting quarterbacks again, going back to Wyatt Sexton. Chris Rix, benched earlier this season, got the nod against Duke a week ago, then struggled in the first half.
Sexton came on and finished 11-of-15 for 220 yards and a touchdown in the Seminoles' 29-7 victory. Now, he's back in the lineup, even though he's been inconsistent in road games.
"It comes with time," Bowden said. "I think he'll gradually get comfortable with it. Maybe this is his time."
Seminoles' RB to play
Florida State tailback Leon Washington is expected to return after missing two straight games with a shoulder injury, giving Sexton some added support on offense. Washington ranks fourth in the ACC with 689 yards rushing.
"I am a tough player, and the coaches know that also, so I will be ready," Washington said. "It's one of those things where I need to get out there on the first series and get hit and see how things go from there."
Amato has offensive worries of his own. Jay Davis has thrown eight interceptions in the past two games, and if backup Marcus Stone (sprained knee) is available, he might play for only the second time in six games.
Other injuries on offense have played a role in Davis' poor play. Three lineman missed last week's game against Georgia Tech, as did leading receiver Richard Washington. Wide receiver Tramain Hall left early with back spasms. Washington and Hall are listed as questionable this week, as is offensive tackle Derek Morris.