N.C. State Wolfpack vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Nov. 13, 2021

Eytan Shander
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

For the first time in a long time there’s way more than bragging rights for both the Wolfpack and Deacons. The ACC and Atlantic Division are on the line as Wake hosts NC State this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.

Score Prediction

NC State 40, Wake Forest 36

Best Bet

NC State +1

Over

NC State Wolfpack vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Predictions

Wake has the high-powered offense and puts up points, but the Wolfpack are a brick wall on defense. Something’s going to give, and it will be Wake’s offense. NC State is the second-best defense in the entire conference, including the number one run defense. The Wolfpack can be just good enough to keep Wake at bay, taking advantage of the Deacons softer defense.

If NC State can get some key stops, it’s the difference between losing and winning a close shootout. That’s what this game has the makings of, not one that NC State shuts down Wake’s offense, but more so makes enough key stops to prevent Wake from taking the lead.

Nobody will accuse Wake Forest of being boring as their games provide a weekly example of chaos. Their offense is so dynamic it’s a little easy to forget they do give up points. The Wolfpack have a decent passing game that can hang so long as their defense is cooperating.

Wake’s lone loss came at the hands of a UNC team that just made more plays on offense combined with getting the last stop of the game on defense. The QB battle will be fascinating coming down to who makes the fewest mistakes, Devin Leary for NC State or Sam Hartman for Wake.

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NC State Wolfpack vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Odds

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NC State Wolfpack vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Resources

• Matchup: ACC
• Date: Saturday, November 13, 2021
• Venue: Truist Field
• Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• TV-Time: ACCN - 7:30 p.m. ET

• Weather Report
• College Football Playoff Betting

NC State Wolfpack Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 7-2
• ATS: 6-3
• O/U: 4-5
• ATS - Home: 4-1
• ATS - Away: 2-2

Leary is on fire in the air accounting for 2,475 passing yards and 25 TDs to just 3 INTs. He’s helped on the ground by Zonovan Knight and Ricky Person Jr. who have a combined seven rushing TDs. Knight leads the team in rushing with 617 yards on the ground, as Person Jr. is right behind Knight at 487 yards. Emeka Emezie leads a trio of WRs who catch passes and score touchdowns. He leads the team with 550 yards but only has two TDs to Devin Carter’s four. Thayer Thomas leads the Pack with six receiving TDs – also second on the team in receiving yards.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 8-1
• ATS: 4-5
• O/U: 4-5
• ATS - Home: 2-3
• ATS - Away: 2-2

Wake has the 15th overall offense in the country – 19th in the air averaging 321.1 passing yards per-game. Hartman has thrown for 2867 yards in the air, accounting for 25 passing TDs to five INTs. The team uses a trio of RBs with Hartman adding an extra scoring punch. Christian Beal- Smith leads the team with 533 rushing yards, but Justice Ellison and Christian Turner have a combined 755 yards and seven TDs.

Hartman leads the team with eight rushing scores, one behind Beal- Smith’s seven. Wake’s passing offense is fueled by two stud WRs in Jaquarii Roberson and A.T. Perry. They are both over 840 yards and combine for 18 of the 25 passing TDs on the team – 10 going to Perry.

N.C. State has gone UNDER the point total in four of its last five road games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - NC State Wolfpack

• Record: 7-2
• VI Ranking: 14
• Points Scored: 280
• Points Allowed: 144
• PS/G: 31.1 (49th)
• PA/G: 16 (6th)

Inside the Stats - Wake Forest Demon Deacons

• Record: 8-1
• VI Ranking: 11
• Points Scored: 402
• Points Allowed: 249
• PS/G: 44.7 (2nd)
• PA/G: 27.7 (75th)

Key Players to Watch

• NCST: Devin Leary - QB (210/318, 2,475 yards, 25 TD, 3 INT)
• NCST: Zonovan Knight - RB (119 carries, 617 yards, 3 TD)
• WF: Sam Hartman - QB (188/301, 2,873 yards, 27 TD, 5 INT)
• WF: A.T. Perry - WR (42 catches, 845 yards, 10 TD)

NC State Wolfpack vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Conclusion

The biggest number that keeps jumping out is how bad Wake is at covering spreads versus them winning football games. They have such a volatile style that relies on throwing all over the field, so if they take on a team who can stop that offense, it makes it much harder for Wake to pull away.

This line doesn’t provide a ton of wiggle room as it’s down to 1 in most places, so treat it like a pick em. The Wolfpack have an offense that can hang with Wake and a defense that’s night and day better than the Deacons. It might be close, but the Wake machine stalls against the Pack’s defense.

NC State Wolfpack vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Trends

• N.C. State has covered the spread in four of its last five road games.
• N.C. State has gone UNDER the point total in four of its last five road games.
• Wake Forest has gone OVER the point total in four of its last five games.
• Wake Forest has gone UNDER the point total in five of its last six home games.

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