The Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1-0) and Vanderbilt Commodores (2-0) meet Saturday at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET (SEC Network). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Wake Forest at Vanderbilt odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Demon Deacons registered a 44-10 win over VMI of the FCS last week in the Triad, and that was with backup QB Mitch Griffis. The good news for the Deacons is that star QB Sam Hartman has been medically cleared to play after surgery in August to remove a blood clot.
The Commodores started off strong, recording a 63-10 win at Hawaii before coming home to drop Elon of the FCS last weekend. Vandy coughed up 31 points, 152 rushing yards and 343 passing yards to the Phoenix, so that splashed a little cold water on the 43-31 winning performance.
Wake Forest is No. 21 in the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
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Wake Forest at Vanderbilt odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 10:43 a.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Wake Forest -475 (bet $475 to win $100) | Vanderbilt +360 (bet $100 to win $360)
- Against the spread (ATS): Wake Forest -12.5 (-112) | Vanderbilt +12.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 65.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Wake Forest at Vanderbilt picks and predictions
Prediction
Wake Forest 45, Vanderbilt 20
Money line
Wake Forest (-475) will cost you nearly 5 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for such little reward. The return of Hartman is nice, and Vanderbilt (+360) should offer little resistance, but the ‘Dores are still playing on their home field.
PASS.
Against the spread
WAKE FOREST -12.5 (-112) is a strong play laying the points, even if Hartman is eased into action. The Demon Deacons won the Atlantic Division with Hartman under center, and they’re just an offensive machine when he is healthy.
Vanderbilt +12.5 (-108) has been a feel-good story through the first 2 games, as coach Clark Lea has this program headed in the right direction. The Commodores have already equaled its win total from a season ago. Still, it isn’t quite on the same level as a Top 25 team such as Wake, and this will be a hard lesson on how far it still has to go.
Over/Under
UNDER 65.5 (-105) is worth playing lightly, although it’s always a dangerous proposition in Wake games.
The Over is 7-3 in the last 10 games for the Deacons on the road. However, the Under is 4-1 in the last 5 non-conference tilts, and 5-0 in the previous 5 outings in the month of September.
Vandy allowed Elon to run amok last week so there are concerns about the defense, especially against an elite QB. The Over is also 4-0-1 in its last 5 vs. ACC teams, and 5-2 in the last 7 at home, so tread lightly.
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