Mississippi State vs Wake Forest Prediction Football Picks Today 1/2/26

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Mississippi State Bulldogs meet Friday in the college football Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Here’s a Mississippi State vs Wake Forest Prediction. This article will include a Mississippi State vs Wake Forest Pick.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Preview

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons beat Delaware and lost to Duke. Wake Forest has won 6 of its last 8 games. Robby Ashford is completing 59.2 percent of his passes for 2,169 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Chris Barnes and Carlos Hernandez have combined for 1,085 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns, while Sterling Berkhalter has 25 receptions.

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons ground game is averaging 156.8 yards per contest, and Demond Claiborne leads the way with 907 yards and 10 touchdowns. Defensively, Wake Forest is allowing 21.5 points and 321.9 yards per game. Nick Andersen leads the Wake Forest Demon Deacons with 95 tackles, Langston Hardy has 7 sacks and Zamari Stevenson has 1 interception.

Mississippi State Bulldogs Betting Preview

The Mississippi State Bulldogs lost to Missouri and Ole Miss. Mississippi State has lost 3 straight games. Blake Shapen is completing 64.4 percent of his passes for 2,433 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. Brenen Thompson and Anthony Evans III have combined for 1,699 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, while Seydou Traore has 34 receptions.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs ground game is averaging 161.7 yards per contest, and Fluff Bothwell leads the way with 639 yards and 6 touchdowns. Defensively, Mississippi State is allowing 29.2 points and 405.8 yards per game. Jahron Manning leads the Mississippi State Bulldogs with 85 tackles, Nic Mitchell has 2.5 sacks and Brylan Lanier has 3 interceptions.

Why the Mississippi State Bulldogs will win

• Mississippi State has won 15 of its last 17 games against non-conference opponents.
• Wake Forest has lost seven of its last eight games as an underdog in North Carolina.
• Mississippi State has covered the spread in each of its last five games against non-conference opponents.
• Wake Forest has failed to cover the spread in each of its last three games as an underdog at neutral venues.
• Mississippi State has won the first quarter in each of its last four games against opponents from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
• Mississippi State has won the first half in each of its last five games against non-conference opponents.

Why the Wake Forest Demon Deacons will win

• Mississippi State has lost seven of its last eight games.
• Wake Forest has won each of its last five games against non-conference opponents.
• Wake Forest has covered the spread in four of its last five games against non-conference opponents.
• Mississippi State has failed to cover the spread in four of its last five games against non-AP-ranked teams at neutral venues.
• Wake Forest has won the first half in each of its last five games against non-conference opponents.
• Wake Forest has won the first quarter in each of its last four games against non-conference opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Five of Wake Forest’s last six games at neutral venues have gone UNDER the total points line.
• Four of Mississippi State’s last five games have gone OVER the total points line.

Mississippi State Bulldogs Player Prop Facts

• Heading into the bowl games, Ethan Pulliam ranks 5th amongst qualified players for gross average yards per punt (47.7) this season.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons Player Prop Facts

• Heading into the bowl games, Robby Ashford is one of only 21 players in the FBS to record 2,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• Mississippi State has given up the largest 3rd quarter lead to win a game this season – 17 points vs Texas.
• Mississippi State ranks 131st among FBS teams for Q4 opponent points per game this season (10.0).
• Wake Forest ranks T131st among FBS teams for Q4 points per game this season (3.6).
• Wake Forest ranks 11th among FBS teams for Q2 opponent points per game this season (4.7).

Mississippi State vs Wake Forest Prediction

Wake Forest could be without defensive lineman Mateen Ibirogba and running back Demond Claiborne, which are two big losses. Mississippi State appears to be close to a full team. On paper, Mississippi State is the better team and should be favored, but I’m not laying points with a side that’s won just one game since September 21.

Granted, Mississippi State hasn’t been favored since playing Northern Illinois, but this team has been a mess defensively and just isn’t a team I’m excited to back. We’ve seen teams that limp into bowl season fall flat on their face. I doubt a trip to Charlotte is going to motivate Mississippi State to finish the season strong. Give me the free field goal with Wake Forest.