College Football Picks: Wake Forest vs NC State Best Bets
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Two 2-0 teams collide in Winston-Salem on Thursday night for a rival ACC clash when the Wolfpack face the Demon Deacons. Wake Forest is 1-1 ATS while the under is 2-0 in the early going. NC State is also 1-1 ATS, while their games are 1-1 o/u.
Wake Forest vs NC State Betting Odds for Week 3
Spread: Wake Forest +7.5 (-122, FanDuel Sportsbook); NC State -7 (-105, BetMGM)
Total: over 52.5 (-110, BetMGM); Under 52.5 (-105, FanDuel Sportsbook)
Moneyline: Wake Forest +230 (DraftKings Sportsbook); NC State -275 (FanDuel Sportsbook)
The only real movement in lines for this game has come from the total, where it opened at 55.5 and has steadily declined. It's still not universal across books, so be sure to look around.
The spread has just flickered, opening at 7.5, occasionally dropping, then rising and is still a half a point different depending on your book. Curiously, the moneyline has moved a good bit for a game where the spread isn't changing. NC State opened at (-238) and has gone as high as (-305), while the Deacons opened at (+195), rose to as high as (+250) before coming back down some.
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Wake Forest vs NC State Betting Picks for Week 3
This is a pretty tough game to find an edge in. Wake Forest labored in their opener against Kennesaw State, but I'll give them a slight pass as star RB Demond Claibourne had just three carries before departing. He returned last week, gashing Western Carolina for 193 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries. He posted a 20-136-2 line last season at NC State and is obviously vital to their success.
The Wolfpack are far more battle-tested, having escaped despite mistakes in their opener against ECU and forcing a late mistake to survive last week over Virginia. They, too, have a workhorse back in Hollywood Smothers, but find the remaining skill players vastly superior to the Deacons. CJ Bailey and as many as six receivers and tight ends have flashed. Defensively, it's been a mixed bag.
Historically, this has been a tight series recently, with the teams splitting their last six matchups, though two of the Wolfpack's three have come by more than a touchdown. We haven't seen enough from new Wake Forest HC Jake Dickert's scheme for me to back an upset. I'd lean slightly towards the over, but not with great conviction. Common sense probably says take the home underdog, so I'll go the other direction, as I trust Bailey far more than Wake QB Robby Ashford.
Wake Forest vs NC State Expert Pick: NC State -7 (-105 at BetMGM)
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Wake Forest vs NC State Predictions for Week 3
If I'm being honest, I don't trust either team. I liked both East Carolina and Virginia, plus the points in Raleigh over the last two weeks, so why flip my confidence with the Wolfpack on the road? I'm definitely waffling.
NC State's defense has been pretty bad. They stuffed the Pirates' run game, but allowed 383 yards passing, and Virginia found a ton of balance in a shootout, throwing for 257 yards and rushing for 216 a week after gaining just 91 yards against Coastal Carolina.
In the end, I find the Wolfpack simply have better playmakers to produce consistently. Claiborne will get his, and I expect Ashford to have some success with his legs. But I don't think he has the arm, past success, or playmakers in the receiving game outside of emerging freshman Chris Barnes to sustain drives.
NC State 31-23
