Virginia vs Wake Forest Odds, Lines and Best Bets
- Wake Forest (3-0) visits Virginia (2-1) on Friday night at 7:00 PM EST on ESPN2
- Cavaliers QB Brennan Armstrong ranks second in college football with 1,298 passing yards this season
- See the odds, predictions and best bet to make in the conference game below
Get ready for some fireworks under the lights on Friday night Charlottesville, Virginia.
Virginia is favored by 4.5 points over undefeated Wake Forest in what should definitely be the most entertaining game of the night. This important ACC match up doesn’t only give you the chance to watch some quality football, there’s a great betting opportunity as well.
Wake Forest vs Virginia Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake Forest Demon Deacons | +4.5 (-110) | +158 | O 68.5 (-110) |
| Virginia Cavaliers | -4.5 (-110) | -196 | U 68.5 (-110) |
Odds as of Sept 22nd at FanDuel
Wake Forest won last year’s match up 40-23, but these odds are expecting a much different result. Not only are the Demon Deacons underdogs, but the total is much higher as well. Let’s take a deep dive into both programs to settle on the best bet on the board.
Wake Forest Coming off Big Win Over FSU
Wake Forest thrashing FSU by three touchdowns was undoubtedly an impressive performance. That said, it’s important to look at the win from a birds eye view to gain proper context. The Seminoles are now 0-3 and actually entered the game at five point underdogs. The result appears to be more a testament to how far Florida State has fallen as opposed to how great Wake Forest could be.
The Demon Deacons are sporting a 3-0 record but those wins came over reeling FSU, Old Dominion and Norfolk State. While Virginia isn’t about to contend for an ACC title any time soon they are a step above those other teams.
3️⃣-0️⃣#GoDeacs 🎩 pic.twitter.com/r20X5YVeg9
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) September 18, 2021
To compete in this one Wake Forest will lean on a trio of stars that has them ranked T-29th in scoring at 39.3 points per game. Quarterback Sam Hartman is a game manager, but a really good one.
He has six touchdowns and only one interception on the season and will look for his favorite target A.T. Perry often. The Demon Deacons will also lean on running back Christian Beal-Smith who already has 229 yards and four touchdowns this year. Beal-Smith would be used to prolong drives and give the defense a rest against the high flying Cavaliers.
Dynamic Duo Leading Virginia Offense
Virginia is coming off their first loss of the season, a 59-39 loss to North Carolina. The offense was amazing and the defense wasn’t. It’s a theme that’s likely to continue all year. The Cavaliers are second in passing yards, seventh in total yards and 19th in total points. On the defensive side, you’d be hard pressed to find any stat in which they crack the top 100 in college football.
The offense relies on quarterback Brennan Armstrong and vertical threat Dontayvion Wicks. Armstrong is second best in college football with 1,298 passing yards in only three games this year. His favorite target Wicks has 346 receiving yards and three touchdowns but it’s the underlying stats that are most impressive. He is averaging 24.7 yards per receptions which is second best among players with at least 10 catches. Two of Virginia’s three opponents have been power five teams, so the gaudy stats have a little more merit than the ones being accumulated by Wake Forest up to this point.
Wide receivers Dontayvion Wicks and Josh Downs BALLED out. 💪 pic.twitter.com/5nu22CuDCz
— theScore (@theScore) September 19, 2021
One negative point to keep in mind, the Cavaliers have next to no running attack. They still don’t have an 100 yard rusher. That’s not a single game stat, they don’t have anyone on the roster with 100 rushing yards all season.
The Entertaining Pick Is the Right One
Who doesn’t love betting an over? Cheering for the offense is always fun and in this case it’s definitely the smart play. Both offenses rank inside the top 30 in points scored and should rack them up in this one. Virginia’s refusal to run the ball will result in big plays or a stopped play clock, both big wins for anyone with the over.
The Pick: Over 68.5 (-110)
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
