Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Virginia Tech Hokies: Predictions and Odds

Where: Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, VA

When: Saturday, November 9th at 3:30pm EST

How (TV): ACC Network

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Away)

?? ft. @A4_Hen #BermudaBoyz pic.twitter.com/sTCnVhRCLo

— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) November 5, 2019

Head Coach: Dave Clawson {All-Time: 67-68 | BGSU, WAKE}

Regular Season Record: 7-1

Enjoying perhaps their best season since their ACC title campaign in 2006, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons have been one of college football’s biggest surprise teams of the year.

Led by an offense that ranks seventh in the nation in total yardage, the Deacs have locked up their fourth straight bowl game, a feat that has never been achieved in the 112 year history of the program. With defending champion Clemson on the horizon next week, coach Dave Clawson will need to keep his squad focused against Virginia Tech.

The Demon Deacons are coming off their most dominant win of the season against an ACC opponent, taking down in-state rival NC State 44-10 at BB&T Field.

Redshirt junior quarterback Jamie Newman returned from an injury to throw for 287 yards and three touchdowns, with fifth-year senior tight end Jack Freudenthal on the receiving end of those scores. Newman also added a pair of running touchdowns in a first quarter that saw Wake Forest get out to a 21-0 lead.

Although Wake’s defense has been leaky this season, giving up 400 yards per game, defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill had to be proud of his unit’s effort last Saturday. His secondary limited Wolfpack quarterback Devin Leary to just 17 completions on 45 attempts for a measly 149 yards in the air.

Redshirt senior cornerback Amari Henderson was his team’s biggest contributor on that end of the field, picking off Leary twice, while special teamer Kenneth Dicks III recovered a fumble on a kickoff to set up Freudenthal’s first touchdown.

Back ? in Lane ?

We’ll honor @coachfostervt pregame before hosting the Deacons at 3:30 PM
? https://t.co/VUNrSr9MWs pic.twitter.com/SX8rAEiXo9

— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) November 6, 2019

Head Coach: Justin Fuente {All-Time: 56-41 | MEM, VT}

Regular Season Record: 5-3

Although they have had better years in recent seasons, the Virginia Tech Hokies are just one win away from matching last year’s total. Furthermore, despite their pedestrian 2-2 record in ACC play, the Hokies are still in the running for the Coastal Division crown, which isn’t surprising given the division’s reputation for being unpredictable.

With a win over Wake Forest, coach Fuente’s crew can put pressure on their arch-rival Virginia, who currently holds first place in the Coastal.

The Hokies return to conference play after a one-off meeting with independent Notre Dame Dame last Saturday, losing a 21-20 heartbreaker to the Irish. Points came at a premium for Virginia Tech, with redshirt freshman Quincy Patterson II taking snaps at quarterback in place of injured starter Hendon Hooker.

Patterson’s inexperience was quite clear, as evidenced by his nine completions on 28 pass attempts for just 139 yards. The Chicago native also threw an interception to go along with a touchdown pass and a team leading 77 rushing yards.

Virginia Tech was kept in the game by their defense, which forced three turnovers. One of those turnovers was a 98 yard scoop and score from redshirt junior safety Divine Deablo, who also added an interception.

Sophomore linebacker Dax Hollifield was also a key contributor, sacking and picking off Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book. Unfortunately, the Hokies were unable to neutralize Book’s scrambling ability, surrendering a seven yard run with less than 30 seconds left in the game.

Wake Forest vs Virginia Tech All-Time Series

In 37 meetings between these ACC foes, the Hokies hold a 24-12-1 series lead over the Demon Deacons. With the two schools being in opposing divisions and not being geographic rivals, they do not have many opportunities to play against each other.

Wake and Virginia Tech have met just five times this century, with the most recent game being a hard to watch 6-3 overtime Wake Forest victory during coach Clawson’s first season in 2014.

One would have to go all the way back to 1983 to find Wake’s last win in Blacksburg, although this will be just their second visit since that game. Prior to the 2014 win, the Demon Deacons had lost five straight games to the Hokies. This will be the first time these teams will play each other where Wake Forest is the only ranked team.

Wake Forest Roster Notes

Redshirt sophomore running back Christian Beal-Smith is listed as questionable with an undisclosed injury.

Redshirt senior offensive guard Nathan Gilliam is listed as questionable with a foot injury.

Redshirt senior linebacker Justin Strnad is out for the season after tearing a tendon in his right bicep against Florida State.

Redshirt junior safety Luke Masterson is out for the season with a shoulder injury suffered against Louisville.

Virginia Tech Roster Notes

Freshman running back Keshawn King is expected to play against Wake Forest after dealing with an undisclosed injury.

Junior running back Jalen Holston is listed as questionable with a knee injury suffered in the first week of the season.

Redshirt junior offensive tackle T.J. Jackson is listed as questionable with a foot injury.

Sophomore receiver Tre Turner is listed as questionable with a lower body injury.

Although we should expect a high scoring affair at Lane Stadium, the battle in the trenches should be an area of the game to keep an eye on. Wake Forest’s top pass rusher, Carlos Basham Jr. will look to make life easier for his teammates in the secondary by harassing whoever lines up at quarterback for Virginia Tech. Christian Darrisaw, the Hokies’ young left tackle will be tasked with neutralizing Basham.

Carlos Basham Jr.

Defensive End | 6-5, 275lb | Norhside HS | Roanoke, VA | Redshirt Junior

Affectionately known as “Boogie” in Winston-Salem, Carlos Basham Jr. has been a boogeyman for opposing quarterbacks. At 275 pounds, he already possesses ideal size for an NFL defensive end, capable of bull-rushing opposing tackles and beating up off the snap. The fact that he can line up as an end or linebacker, along with his ability to help in stopping the run has made him a possible candidate to leave school early for the draft.

Christian Darrisaw

Left Tackle | 6-5, 311lb | Fork Union Military Academy/Riverdale Baptist HS | Upper Marlboro, MD | Sophomore

Stats: 20 Career Starts

Left tackle is a position that is often filled by a lineman who has gone through multiple seasons of college coaching and is slowly transitioned into it. Christian Darrisaw is an exception to that rule, as he arrived on campus in 2018 as an immediate starter at the blind side on opening day. Outside of one missed game to injury that year, Darrisaw’s durability and level of play earned him some Freshman All-American honours despite being just a two-star recruit and ranking outside of the top 100 prospects at his position. With at least one more season of eligibility to exhaust, the Maryland native should only get better.

Wake Forest at Virginia Tech Predictions and Odds

Find the latest odds for Wake Forest at Virginia Tech below. The odds are provided by New Jersey sportsbooks bet365 NJ, DraftKings, and Caesars NJ.

Good luck! 

Money Line