Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Virginia Cavaliers Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Sept. 22, 2021

Eytan Shander
VI College Football Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Virginia comes into this matchup battle tested and with some impressive numbers to boot. Wake Forest hasn’t really played anyone – including Florida State who is rapidly becoming a laughingstock. The age-old question in college football will be answered Friday night in Charlottesville; are you better off blasting through cupcakes or taking lumps from better teams? This is a ridiculous matchup for Wake’s secondary, especially after the aerial assault we saw last week from UVA.

Score Prediction: Virginia 44, Wake Forest 40

Best Bet: Over 68.5

Best Bet: Virginia Over 36.5

Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Virginia Cavaliers Predictions

Points, and more points. Get ready for a shootout if you weren’t already expecting one. I don’t agree with a growing concern that Wake won’t be able to hang with UVA, as I think both offenses will be able to effortless move the ball in the air. While Brennan Armstrong was on another planet last week in a losing effort to UNC, the Demon Decans are still undefeated, and UVA is still giving up a ton of yards each game. While I love the over, I think UVA pulls this out, but am expecting a push on the 4-point spread.

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Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Virginia Cavaliers Betting Odds

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Virginia comes off its first loss of the season last week and returns home as a 4-point favorite against an undefeated Wake Forest team.

As expected from both teams’ ability to throw and score, the total is high at 68.5 points. Wake’s 35 points in last week’s win over FSU was their season low in points.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Virginia Cavaliers Betting Resources

• Matchup: ACC
• Date: Friday, September 24, 2021
• Venue: Scott Stadium
• Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
• TV-Time: ESPN2 - 7:00 p.m. ET

• Expert Picks
• Line Movements
• Betting Trend Movements
• Weather Report
• College Football Playoff Betting

Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 3-0
• ATS: 1-2
• O/U: 0-3
• ATS - Home: 1-2
• ATS - Away: 0-0

Beating FSU should feel better than it did, but that’s all about how bad the Seminoles are this year over anything with Wake Forest. In fact, Sam Hartman’s lone blemish came on his only interception. Hartman can throw and will be more than happy to entertain a shootout.

The bigger question is how much Wake will run and milk clock, keeping UVA’s offense off the field. Ultimately talent will take over and we’ll see a backdoor push after Wake’s final score of the game.

Virginia Cavaliers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 2-1
• ATS: 2-1
• O/U: 1-2
• ATS - Home: 2-0
• ATS - Away: 0-1

Virginia simply played better competition than Wake Forest which might be the difference- maker in winning this game. I hate laying 4 against an offense that can throw, but UVA torched their opponents in the air, even in their loss to the Tar Heels. Armstrong is going to throw all over Wake Forest, but he also can’t control his defense.

The problem with playing better comp than your opponent so far is how bad the numbers look against UVA’s defense. Expect some of that to settle down versus an inferior team in Wake.

The Virginia Cavaliers have won and covered the spread in five straight home games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Wake Forest Demon Deacons

• Record: 3-0
• VI Ranking: 60
• Points Scored: 118
• Points Allowed: 40
• PS/G: 39.3 (30th)
• PA/G: 13.3 (15th)

Inside the Stats - Virginia Cavaliers

• Record: 2-1
• VI Ranking: 46
• Points Scored: 124
• Points Allowed: 73
• PS/G: 41.3 (19th)
• PA/G: 24.3 (72nd)

Key Players to Watch

• WF: Sam Hartman - QB (57/83, 691 yards, 6 TD, INT)
• WF: A.T. Perry - WR (13 catches, 255 yards, 2 TD)
• UVA: Brennan Armstrong - QB (87/121, 1,298 yards, 11 TD, 2 INT)
• UVA: Dontayvion Wicks - WR (14 catches, 346 yards, 3 TD)

Injuries

• UVA: Wayne Taulapapa - RB (Concussion-Questionable)
• UVA: Lavel Davis - WR (Knee-Out)
• UVA: Nathaniel Beall III - WR (ACL-Out)

Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Virginia Cavaliers Betting Conclusion

These two teams played just under a year ago with Wake Forest dismantling UVA 40-23. Things have changed a little bit since then, mainly with Virginia’s potent offense. The best bet across the board here is to go over any total that’s south of 73 points.

The final score and numbers won’t reflect what UVA did against UNC, but Wake will make it interesting. The spread may not be the best representation of the gap between these two teams, but the total is spot on predicting a ton of points.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Virginia Cavaliers Betting Trends

• Wake Forest has gone OVER the point total in five of its last six road games.
• Wake Forest has lost seven of its last eight road games.
• Virginia has covered the spread in seven of its last nine games.
• Virginia has covered the spread in five straight home games.
• Virginia has gone OVER the point total in 14 of its last 19 games.

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