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The play here is taking the points in what should be a high-scoring but close game; however, given North Carolina is also my preferred side, it's more than just that. A tremendous QB matchup is ahead with Drake Maye and Sam Hartman squaring off, but anyone who has watched both signal callers the last couple weeks knows Hartman has been struggling while Maye has continued soaring while making a case for the Heisman Trophy. Playing in Winston-Salem will make life more difficult for Maye and the Tar Heels, but the better, less-turnover-prone signal caller presents value. UNC is 5-0 on the road overall and 2-0 ATS as a road underdog. It can clinch the ACC Coastal with a win.
The Tar Heels are off to their best start since 2015 as they are 8-1overall and 5-0 in ACC play. On the other side we have the Demon Deacons who started out hot but they have looked terrible the last two weeks. Deacons Quarterback Sam Hartman has fallen off of a cliff. He has gone from Heisman talks to talks about his nine turnovers in the last two games. Tar Heels quarterback Drake May has been elite this season with 34 total touchdowns, t-2nd in FBS entering this week. This game will be a shootout and the best quarterback will win the game for their team and I'm backing Drake Maye.
Wake Forest owns the better defensive line (No. 50 vs. No. 123) and overall defense (No. 50 vs. No. 118) at Football Outsiders. The Demon Deacons have revenge on their minds after blowing a big lead in last season's 58-55 loss despite outgaining the Tar Heels 615-546. Wake Forest is ranked 17 spots higher in DVOA and 16 in strength of schedule. North Carolina, which is concluding its third set of back-to-back road games this year, is 3-12 against the spread following a win against a conference rival of late. Wake Forest is 13-2 straight up and 12-3 ATS at home over the past three seasons. Take the hungry host.
Honestly, Mike Tierney explained this probably better than I can (and he got the hook) but yeah a total this big and I'm going under, I don't care if 1916 Georgia Tech is playing Cumberland (222-0 final).
It’s simple. This could be the highest total of the season and, as potent as both offenses are, is crazy-high for any football game. Four of the last five Wake games have closed in the 50s, as have three of UNC’s last five. No doubt, the scorefests of the past two seasons — 59-53 and 58-55 — have contributed to this total. If the teams hit their scoring average, it’s a virtual push. I gotta believe one defense buckles up so an Under can be salvaged.
Did I miss the part of the season where Wake Forest re-found itself and became a force? Oh, that didn't happen? Then I can't figure out why the Demon Deacons are favored here. After all, it's not like there's a big homefield advantage. Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye should be considered a contender for the Heisman Trophy, and the Tar Heels still have a legit shot at making the College Football Playoff. The Demon Deacons defense won't have an answer for this offense, which will keep its foot on the gas for some fourth quarter style points.
Team Injuries













