Wake Forest vs Louisville 10/2/21 College Football Picks, Odds, Predictions

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons meet the Louisville Cardinals Saturday in Week 5 ACC college football action from BB&T Field. Louisville is fresh off a game versus Florida State. The Cardinals pounded out an eight-point victory in that one. As for Wake Forest, they played Virginia in their last outing. In that matchup, the Demon Deacons posted a 20-point victory. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Louisville didn’t get a great draw in their opener versus Mississippi. The Cardinals struggled to keep up in that one and fell 43-24. The good news is that the Cardinals bounced back with wins over Eastern Kentucky 30-3 and UCF 42-35 in their next pair of outings. 

In game four versus Florida State, the Cardinals scored all their points in the first half, hanging on for a 31-23 win. QB Malik Cunningham managed 264 yards with two scores, and also led the rush with 56 yards and two more touchdowns off 14 carries. 

Over on the Wake Forest side, their offense was working right out of the gate with a 42-10 win over Old Dominion on September 3. Wake drilled Norfolk State 41-16 in their next game, then took out Florida State in style with a 35-14 win to move to 3-0 on the year. 

Last weekend versus Virginia, the Demon Deacons turned a 20-3 halftime lead into a 37-17 blowout victory. QB Sam Hartman finished with 270 yards and three touchdowns. Justice Ellison led the rush on 86 yards and a score from 13 carries. 

The Cardinals are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 on turf and 3-7 ATS in their last 10 after an ATS win. Louisville is also 6-16 ATS in their last 22 in October. 

Meanwhile, the Deacons are 5-0 ATS in their last five in October and 5-1 ATS in their last six after an ATS win. Wake is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 at home as well. 

PICK: I’m sticking with Wake Forest in this ACC matchup. The Deacons need to be a little sharper on defense here, though. Wake gave up 506 total yards in their last outing, including 407 through the air and 31 first downs. The good news is that the Demon Deacons were able to keep pace on the other side. 

As for Louisville, they went silent in the second half last weekend, finishing on 395 total yards, 4.9 yards per play and 21 first downs. If the Cardinals can’t get it going on the scoreboard early here, I don’t see them controlling the game.