Time: 12:30 PM EST, Sat
Spread: VIR -3.5
Total: 53
Odds from Bookmaker
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons got off to a good start this year, winning three of their first four games, with the only loss a stomping at the hands of then-No. 5 Florida State.
Losses to Duke and Maryland have brought them quickly back to earth, and they now have a 1-3 ACC record. Getting back on track against Virginia is as good a chance as any, with college football oddsmakers setting the line only 3.5 points in favor of the Cavaliers.
The Demon Deacons don’t rank high in any statistical categories, falling in the bottom of the nation in both points for (23.0, 94th) and points allowed (31.0, 89th). That -8 point differential has led many to believing this Wake team will finish last in the ACC.
In many ways that is what this game boils down to: a showdown between two very bad ACC teams fighting not to be the worst.
Wake’s -8 point differential, however, is still better than Virginia’s. The Cavaliers average 23.1 points per game while giving up 33.0. They’ve dropped five straight games after starting the season out 2-0 with victories over Richmond and Penn State. Since that time, the Nittany Lions have gotten a lot better, while the Cavs have only regressed. The 42-17 loss to Duke was especially embarassing, notwithstanding the fact that the Blue Devils have greatly improved due to their unprecedented offense.
The pass offense of the Cavaliers is good, at least. They rank 32nd in the nation in passing yardage with 283.6 per game. It’s just that they can’t convert scoring opportunities, nor diversify their offense. Junior QB Michael Rocco has done a decent job promoting that aerial attack though. The 6’3″ QB from nearby Lynchburg has a QB rating of 126.1 with a pass completion ratio of 59 percent. He’s thrown too many interceptions (8), but if he can control his accuracy, the Cavaliers should emerge victorious.
This game will be very close according to college football odds, and it really comes down not to who is better, but who is worse. Neither team wants to lose this game and be called the ACC’s worst team.
Wake Forest Betting Trends:
Demon Deacons are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 following an SU loss. They are 5-1 ATS vs teams with winning records, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 after allowing less than 20 points the previous week, and 7-15 ATS in their last 22 on the road.
Virginia Betting Trends:
Cavs are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 OCT games, 0-5 ATS in their last 5 following an SU win, 0-7-1 ATS in their last 8 on grass, and 0-8-1 ATS in their last 9 overall.
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