Friday’s ACC action takes us to Winston-Salem where the Wake Forest Demon Deacons take on the Miami Hurricanes. The Hurricanes have been a machine so far this season, blasting Stanford on the road in the opener before embarrassing Florida A&M last week. Wake is also off to a 2-0 start, but that required an overtime win against Purdue last week. Miami should run away with the ACC, and Wake is likely in the bottom third. I don’t see how this game would stay close. The fact that the spread is sitting at 20.5 seems like a dare and a Vegas trap, but Miami should win by far more. I’ll take the bait; give me Miami to cover.
Wake is largely rebuilding this year. While they have some experience back on defense, the offense is being reworked, including new linemen up front, a QB who has transferred around multiple times, and new RBs in the backfield. That’s all a problem when facing the loaded roster of Miami. The strength for Wake Forest should be the defense, and especially the secondary, but do you really believe that that will matter for Darian Mensah, Malachi Toney, and the rest of this elite offense? I just don’t see how Wake keeps pace here. The Hurricanes will have a spot or two where they struggle this season, but it is hard to imagine it will be this one.
Miami vs Wake Forest Prediction: Miami -20.5 (-110) available at the time of publishing. Playable to -23.5.
