Wake Forest gets an FCS breather before closing the season against three ACC opponents, and Merrimack may simply be caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. The #15 Demon Deacons are coming off a 51-7 dismantling of rival Virginia and have outscored their last four victims by a combined 187-31. A similar result would not be surprising Saturday, but Wake Forest won't need to make a statement against the Warriors. Once the Deacons build the sizeable lead many expect, the focus could quickly shift toward preserving health and getting younger players valuable snaps. If that happens, Wake may spend much of the second half draining the clock rather than chasing style points, a scenario that could make staying under 59.5 very realistic.
Wake Forest averages 39.1 points per game while allowing just 17.9 against one of the tougher schedules in the country. The Demon Deacons should have little trouble building a comfortable lead Saturday, but once they do, the focus will likely shift toward preserving health for the ACC stretch run. That would leave Merrimack needing to contribute significantly to an over, which seems unlikely.
Wake Forest's strength lies in its running game and defense, two traits that can help any game stay under a large total. With three important ACC matchups waiting on the other side of Saturday, why risk a key contributor's health just to push the score past 60 points? Scores like 52-6, 51-3, or even 49-10 (to give Merrimack a little bit of credit) feel far more realistic than a shootout, and with 59.5 points to work with, there’s plenty of room for this game to stay under.
Wake Forest vs Merrimack prediction: Under 59.5 (-115) available at time of publishing. Playable to under 57.5 (-110).
