NC State Wolfpack vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 09/11/25

The Thursday ACC games are getting started early in the season, as the North Carolina State Wolfpack face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem. Both teams are 2-0 to start the season, but I am not sure either team is very good. Both are projected in the bottom third of the conference, and I suspect that’s where they will finish, but hey, 2-0 is 2-0. Both teams are laden with transfers and are still figuring out things like playing time and rotations and chemistry, and that brings a lot of unpredictability with it. I’ll be treading lightly with this game, but I do like the home team to cover in a midweek game. My NC State vs Wake Forest pick is Wake +7.

The Wolfpack narrowly survived a home battle with Virginia (which is also not very good), and actually trailed most of the game. The Cavaliers out-gained the ‘Pack by 100 yards, and they ran 18 more offensive plays. UVA controlled the game, and — honestly — I’m still not sure how they lost. I am very much interested in fading NC State as often as I can this season. As for Wake, this is a total rebuild under former Oregon State head coach Jack Dickert. Dickert is a defensive-minded guy who seems to have the sense to build the offensive identity around their one true proven stud, Demond Claiborne. Claiborne is a genuine talent at tailback, and his underwhelming 10 carries last weekend still went for 193 yards and 3 scores. I do expect Wake to hurt NC State on the ground, and Wake Forest would love to make this an ugly, low-scoring, ground-and-pound kind of game. If the Deacons get their way, this game will stay close. I’ll take the points.

NC State vs Wake Forest prediction: Wake Forest +7 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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