The VMI Keydets and Wake Forest Demon Deacons open their seasons at Truist Field in Winston-Salem Thursday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the VMI at Wake Forest odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Keydets managed a 6-5 record last season. The FCS team faced just one FBS team in 2021. It wasn’t pretty as VMI was roughed up 60-10 at Kent State last September.
The Demon Deacons, runners-up in the ACC in 2021, received some unsettling news this summer. QB Sam Hartman is currently sidelined due to a non-medical issue, so QB Mitch Griffis will be under center to start the season. Hartman is reportedly out indefinitely.
Wake Forest is ranked No. 19 in the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
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VMI at Wake Forest odds
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:39 a.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): VMI +1300 (bet $100 to win $1,300) | Wake Forest -5000 (bet $5,000 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): VMI +32.5 (-107) | Wake Forest -32.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 68.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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VMI at Wake Forest picks and predictions
Prediction
Wake Forest 45, VMI 17
Money line
Wake Forest (-5000) is the heavy favorite here, but there is no value betting a money line like this. You might win one, you might win several. But eventually betting huge favorites like this will come back to bite you hard, and you’ll be in the red despite a winning record.
AVOID.
Against the spread
VMI +32.5 (-107) is worth a play. Yes, the Keydets were trounced at Kent State last season, and were barely a .500 team in SoCon play in 2021. However, I’m not entirely sold on Wake Forest being the same team it was a year ago without Hartman under center.
Over/Under
UNDER 68.5 (-107) is the play here.
Again, if Hartman was in the lineup, I think Wake would have an outside chance of taking care of this Over all on its own. But it might take Griffis and the Deacs offense a little time to jell, and Over bettors will be playing catch-up all night. Plus, VMI just doesn’t have the horses to do much.
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