Wake Forest vs Virginia Prediction
Wake Forest comes into this matchup on a four game winning streak and they have scored 30+ points in all four of those wins. The Demon Deacons are having a great season and they have allowed 14 or fewer in three straight. Virginia started the season strong, but they have lost three of their last four games. The Cavaliers have struggled to score points, as they have scored 16 or fewer in three of their last four. I don’t like how Virginia has played recently and Pribula has been very average, so give me Wake Forest to cover at home.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Preview
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are 6-1 (4-1) this season after they defeated California by a score of 41-7 in their last game. Wake Forest led 34-0 at halftime and they cruised to the blowout win in the second half. The Demon Deacons out gained Cal by a total of 509-266, went 8-14 on third downs, and tied the turnover battle at zero in the game. Gio Lopez threw for 267 yards and four touchdowns, while Dominick Barry caught four passes for 102 yards and three scores. Jamar Searcy rushed five times for 61 yards and one touchdown in the win.
Prior to that game, Wake Forest defeated NC State by a score of 38-14 and Stanford by a score of 57-3. The Demon Deacons have scored 37.4 points per game with 290.3 passing yards and 155.6 rushing yards per game, while they have allowed 19.4 points against per game this season. Colton Joseph has thrown for 1,256 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, while also rushing 84 times for 365 yards and four scores this season.
Virginia Cavaliers Betting Preview
The Virginia Cavaliers are 4-4 (2-3) this year after they lost to Duke by a score of 19-16 in their last game. Virginia led 13-7 at halftime and 16-13 in the fourth quarter, but they allowed a touchdown with 1:14 left for the loss. The Cavaliers out gained Duke by a total of 353-327, went 5-17 on third downs, and lost the turnover battle by a total of 2-1 in the game. Beau Pribula threw for 158 yards and one interception, while John Rogers caught five passes for 65 yards. Jekail Middlebrook rushed 24 times for 117 yards and one score in the game.
Prior to that loss, Virginia lost to SMU by a score of 23-13, but did beat Syracuse by a score of 28-25 before that. The Cavaliers have scored 28.3 points per game with 199.3 passing yards and 161.6 rushing yards per game, while they have allowed 19.6 points against per game this season. Beau Pribula has thrown for 1,369 yards with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions, while Jekail Middlebrook has 105 carries for 513 yards and four scores this year.
Why the Wake Forest Demon Deacons will win
- Wake Forest has won each of its last 10 October games against non-AP-ranked teams.
- Virginia has lost 20 of its last 23 games against top-15 AP-ranked teams.
- Virginia has failed to cover the spread in each of its last six games in October.
- Wake Forest has covered the spread in each of its last six games in October.
- Wake Forest has won the first half in each of its last nine games as an AP-ranked team against a non-AP-ranked team.
- Wake Forest has won the first quarter in each of its last eight home games against teams from Virginia.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Virginia’s last six games against teams from North Carolina have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of Wake Forest’s last four games as a home favorite have gone OVER the total points line.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons Player Prop Facts
- Heading into Week 9, Gio Lopez ranks 3rd in the league for TD:INT ratio (17.00) this season.
Virginia Cavaliers Player Prop Facts
- Heading into Week 9, Daniel Sparks ranks 1st amongst qualified players for gross average yards per punt (51.1) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Wake Forest is one of only two FBS teams undefeated in road games this season (4-0).
- Wake Forest ranks 4th among FBS teams for 4th down conversion percentage against this season (23.1).
- Virginia ranks 5th among FBS teams for sacks this season (27.0).
- Virginia ranks T16th among FBS teams for interceptions this season (8).