Game: Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Virginia Cavaliers
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Demon Deacons +3.5, Cavaliers -3.5
Total: 68.5
It’s a key ACC matchup tonight in Charlottesville as Wake Forest takes on Virginia. If history is any indication, the Demon Deacons are looking good as they have beaten the Cavaliers in four straight games. Wake Forest may have a difficult time slowing down the Virginia passing game. Quarterback Brennan Armstrong has thrown for 1,298 yards and 11 touchdowns in just three games so far.
Head coach Dave Clawson and the Wake Forest defense will be up to the task. So far in 2021, the Demon Deacons have allowed just 182.7 passing yards (308.3 total) per game. Clawson had eight returning starters on defense this season and it has showed. Wake Forest is allowing just 13.3 points per game so far. Last week, they beat Florida State 35-14, but the Seminoles may be the worst team in the ACC. Wake’s other two wins were over Old Dominion and FCS Norfolk State.
Facing Virginia’s offense will be the Demon Deacons first true test. The Cavaliers are averaging nearly 560 yards of offense and 41.3 points per game. Virginia scored wins over FCS William & Mary and Illinois before losing to No. 21 North Carolina last week. Armstrong threw for 554 yards and four touchdowns against the Tar Heels, but it wasn’t enough.
The Virginia defense allowed 699 yards of offense and 59 points to North Carolina. Wake Forest does average over 39 points and 416 yards of offense per game, but they are not the Tar Heels. Clawson likes to rely on the run though they do have an experienced quarterback in Sam Hartman. The sophomore has completed 57-of-83 passes for 691 yards and six touchdowns so far this season. He has thrown just one interception.
Being in different divisions in the ACC, these two teams typically only play each other once every four years. They did play last year at Wake Forest. Of the Demon Deacons four wins in the last four games, three of those victories came at home. Virginia’s last win in the series was in 2007, a 17-16 triumph at home.
Tonight’s spread indicates what should be a close game. Virginia is favored by 3.5 and has covered the spread in seven of its past nine games. One of its ATS losses was last week’s loss to North Carolina where the Cavs were a 7.5-point underdog. They lost by 10. One thing to note is that, as successful as they have been against the spread recently, Virginia is 1-6 ATS in its last seven games against Wake Forest at home.
Wake Forest has not enjoyed recent success against the spread. They are just 1-4 ATS in their last five games. However, they are 6-0 ATS in their last six games against Virginia.
All three of Wake Forest’s games this year have gone Under the total. The Demon Deacons have yet to play an offense like Virginia’s. The Under is 3-1 in Virginia’s last four games.