College Football Preview – North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

The highest scoring game of the week is projected to take place in Chapel Hill. The unbeaten Wake Forest Demon Deacons will go on the road to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels, but they are an underdog per the college football betting odds although UNC is 4-4. Wake Forest is not getting a lost of respect, but the Demon Deacons are currently in line to win the ACC Atlantic and take part in the ACC Championship Game.

College Football Betting Odds

Wake Forest +2.5

North Carolina -2.5

Total 76.5

Wake Forest is No. 9 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings despite being undefeated at 8-0. The Demon Deacons are currently the team to beat in the ACC, but they had to squeak past Louisville and Syracuse before allowing 56 points to Army. They pounded Duke 45-7 last week, but the oddsmakers have them listed as an underdog against North Carolina on Saturday.

The Tar Heels have had a forgettable season. North Carolina was a top ten team to start the year, but a loss to Virginia Tech quickly dissuaded voters that this was an elite team. UNC lost home games to Georgia Tech and Florida State, and the Tar Heels had to hold on to beat Miami a few weeks ago. They suffered a 10-point loss to Notre Dame last weekend.

When Wake Forest Has the Ball

This is one of the best offenses in the country under Dave Clawson’s watch. Wake Forest is frustrating defenses with the slow mesh, and Sam Hartman is completing 65.2% of his passes for 9.9 YPA with 22 touchdowns and three interceptions on the year. Jaquarii Roberson and A.T. Perry have been the top receivers, and both players could finish with over 1,000 receiving yards.

Christian Beal-Smith has run for 492 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the Demon Deacons. This is a strong run game though with Hartman, Christian Turner, and Justice Ellison all posting solid numbers on the ground.

The Tar Heels don’t have a good defense. North Carolina ranks 89^th in scoring defense and 67^th in total defense. This front seven is not faring well against the run, and the pass defense hasn’t been at its best either.

When North Carolina Has the Ball

Sam Howell is no longer a Heisman Trophy frontrunner. Howell is completing 63.2% of his passes for 9.1 YPA with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He is the second leading rusher on the Tar Heels, running for 585 yards and 5.1 YPC, and his play has made this one of the most dangerous offenses in college football once again.

North Carolina’s leading receiver is Josh Downs. Downs has 70 receptions for 979 yards and eight touchdowns on the year. He has almost three times as many yards as the next closest receiver, and no other Tar Heel has more than 17 receptions. Ty Chandler leads the team with 671 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

This Demon Deacons’ defense ranks 94^th in total defense. Wake Forest is allowing 4.9 YPC and 211.1 YPG on the ground. The pass defense hasn’t been bad, but the front seven must hold the line to remain undefeated this Saturday in Chapel Hill.

Prediction

Wake Forest has to be the pick as a short underdog considering how good this offense has looked, and the over is probably the right side too.

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