Louisville Cardinals vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Preview: Wake Forest, Louisville Look to Prove Worth as ACC Contenders

With this year’s Clemson team looking a few steps behind the teams that dominated college football over the last several seasons, the ACC feels more wide open than it has in some time. Their loss to North Carolina State last week has opened the door for someone to end the Tigers’ run of ACC dominance. But who will step up and make the most of the opportunity?

Wake Forest is one of the teams vying to take advantage of Clemson’s issues and will look to further make their case against Louisville. They might not be oozing with talent, but they rarely beat themselves.

Louisville is another another hopeful and has won three straight since a season-opening loss to Ole Miss. With a win in Winston-Salem, the Cardinals could send their own message.

Louisville Cardinals (3-1) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-0), 12:30 p.m. ET

Louisville Cardinals vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons College Football Betting Odds

Moneyline

• Louisville Cardinals +220
• Wake Forest Demon Deacons -280

Total

• OVER 63.5 (-110)
• UNDER 63.5 (-110)

Spread

• Louisville Cardinals +7.5 (-120)
• Wake Forest Demon Deacons -7.5 (-102)

Louisville Cardinals vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons college football betting odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Saturday, October 2, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Louisville Cardinals vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Outlook

The Cardinals are still a little tough to read at this point. They lost to Ole Miss, but the loss wasn’t unexpected as the Cardinals were nine-point underdogs. Since then they have won three in a row, including a win over a solid UCF team. But beating the worst Florida State team in a generation by just eight points is hardly impressive.

Quarterback Malik Cunningham has become the whole offense this season, leading the team in rushing as well as passing. I am not sure that was the design coming into the season. It does make them a tougher team to plan for though.

To win, the Cardinals will hope to get a lead and then try to force a mistake or two. That will be far more difficult against a sound Wake Forest team than it was against the Seminoles.

What is Wake Forest’s Ceiling?

The Demon Deacons are undefeated and already have two ACC wins. That is a great start, but they still have a lot of work to do if they are going to take the Atlantic Division. At the very least they have to win all their home games because trips to Clemson and Boston College will be tough.

The offense has been very efficient so far and has scored at least 35 points in each game. Quarterback Sam Hartman might not be an elite talent, but he has experience and avoids turnovers. This season that is as big as anything. With all of the chaos across the nation, you can go pretty far by not making mistakes. Against Louisville this offense should have success.

Wake Forest’s defense has been impressive so far too, holding teams to just 14 points per game. Virginia had been gouging teams all season, and they were pretty quiet in last week’s loss. And the same FSU team that Louisville just beat by one score the Demon Deacon beat by 21 point a couple of weeks ago. All four of Wake Forest’s games have come in under the total due to how well the Demon Deacons have kept teams out of the end zone.

College Football Betting Trends to Consider for Louisville Cardinals vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons

• Louisville is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games on FieldTurf.
• The Cardinals are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS win.
• The Cardinals are 8-19-1 ATS in their last 28 games as an underdog.
• Wake Forest is 6-1 ATS in their last seven games following a straight up win.
• The Demon Deacons are 6-1 ATS in their last seven conference games.
• The Demon Deacons are 5-1 ATS in their last six games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.

Louisville Cardinals vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons Best Bet

Wake Forest -6.5

I am not sure how good Wake Forest is, but I do not expect them to fall at home to Louisville. When they win they have a way of beating you up after you thought it would be an easy game. They don’t do anything special; they just don’t make mistakes. That style of play should suit them just fine against a Louisville team that is a little too dependent on Cunningham to make every play right now. This game will be close enough that we might have to sweat a garbage score late.

College Football Score Prediction: Louisville vs Wake Forest

Wake Forest 34, Louisville 21