Two schools that prefer to keep the ball on the ground, Head Coach Justin Fuente and the Virginia Tech Hokies (+2.5) are set to play host to their ACC foe No. 22 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (-2.5) at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field. ACC Network has the TV rights and kickoff will take place at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Virginia Tech Hokies
In this Saturday Atlantic Coast game, Wake Forest is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 2.5 points. The Demon Deacons are also receiving -140 moneyline odds while the Hokies are +120. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 65 points, and if one squad gets out in front in the early stages, it will probably produce a nice betting opportunity in-game.
The line opened at 3. The game’s over/under hasn’t changed after it was set initially at 65.
Each team has posted a good return this season as the Demon Deacons have gained 3.2 units and the Hokies are ahead 2.4 units.
The Demon Deacons are 7-1 straight up (SU), including 4-1 SU against conference opponents. The Hokies are 5-3 SU overall and 2-2 SU in conference play.
The Deacs are coming off a resounding 44-10 win over North Carolina State last week. Jamie Newman completed 25-of-38 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns. Kenneth Walker III (56 yards on 16 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Newman (30 yards on 11 carries, two TDs) led the ground attack. Sage Surratt (nine receptions, 67 yards) and Kendall Hinton (six catches, 93 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Virginia Tech narrowly lost a 21-20 game to Notre Dame. Quincy Patterson II completed nine-of-28 passes for 139 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Patterson II (77 yards on 19 rush attempts) and Deshawn McClease (32 yards on 13 carries) mounted the running game while Damon Hazelton (five receptions, 63 yards, one TD) and Tre Turner (two catches, 58 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Wake Forest’s run the ball on 54.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Virginia Tech has an overall rush percentage of 61.9 percent. The Demon Deacons have rushed for 187 yards/game (including 180.6 per game versus Atlantic Coast opponents) and have 14 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Hokies are putting up 165.9 rush yards per game (161 in conference) and have 10 total rushing TDs.
The Deacs offensive scheme has averaged 323.6 yards in the air overall (296.6 per game against conference opposition) and has 23 passing TDs so far. The Hokies have produced 209.9 pass yards per game (221 in the ACC) and have 18 total pass scores.
Defensively, Wake Forest has allowed 156 rush yards and 244 pass yards per game. The Virginia Tech defense has given up 262.1 yards per game to opposing passers and 140.4 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Deacs have given up an ANY/A of 6.14 to opposing QBs, while the Hokies are yielding an ANY/A of 5.77.
Passing-wise, Hartman has put up 480 yards this season. He’s completed 30-of-53 attempts with two passing scores and has yet to throw an interception. Hartman has a sparkling 9.81 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 8.11 over the past two games.
Look for Hartman to distribute the football early and often in this one. Sage Surratt (582 receiving yards and nine touchdowns), Kendall Hinton (404 yards, one TD) and Scotty Washington (582 yards, seven TDs) have all been heavily involved recently.
For the home team, Quincy Patterson II has completed 9-of-28 passes for 139 yards, one TD and one INT. Patterson II’s ANY/A stands at a minuscule 3.79 for the year and 5.00 across his past two games.
Look for a balanced offensive approach from Virginia Tech in this one. Quincy Patterson II (79 rushing yards, zero receiving yards this season), Tre Turner (196 receiving yards, one receiving TD) and Deshawn McClease (435 rush yards, two rush TDs) have all played key roles recently. The trio has combined for 483 total yards and three touchdowns over the last two games.
These two conference adversaries did not get a chance to face each other in 2018.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Virginia Tech Hokies Betting Prediction
SU Winner: Virginia Tech, ATS Winner: Virginia Tech, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The Virginia Tech defensive unit has sacked opposing QBs 25 times this season. Wake Forest has produced just 17 sacks.
- The Virginia Tech offense has lost nine fumbles in 2019 while Wake Forest has let two get away.
- The Demon Deacons offense has produced nine pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Hokies have accounted for six such plays.
- The Wake Forest defense has allowed six pass plays of 40+ yards, while Virginia Tech has given up seven such plays.
- The Wake Forest offense has created 13 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Virginia Tech has created 12 such runs.
- The Demon Deacons defense has allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Hokies have given up 14 such runs.
- Wake Forest, as a team, has rushed for 3.7 yards per attempt over its past three outings and 2.8 over its last two.
- Virginia Tech has averaged 4.3 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.7 over its last two.
