Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Baylor Bears Odds

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Wake Forest vs. Baylor Odds - Preview - Betting Trends - Free Pick

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons (9-4 SU, 9-4 ATS, 8-5 O/U) recorded a solid 9-4 record last season that was matched by their identical 9-4 ATS mark in the BetUS Sportsbook in 2007 and enter the 2008 NCAA college football regular season ranked in the top 25 (23rd) for the first time in program history.

The Demon Deacons enter the 2008 season brimming with confidence, particularly on offense with the return of two-year starting quarterback Riley Skinner and starting running back Josh Adams.

The team does have question marks along the offensive line with just two returning starters and will be searching for a receiver to replace 2007 leading wideout, Kenneth Moore.

To make a long story short, the offense will need a bit of time to develop and make some new chemistry.

However, the Demon Deacons have nine starters returning on defense and will undoubtedly be one of the best in the ACC and entire nation after finishing fourth in the country with 35 turnovers last season.

Wake Forest also has a defensive secondary that has two future NFL cornerbacks in Alphonso Smith and Brandon Ghee, arguably the best tandem in all of college football.

The Demon Deacons averaged 340.5 total yards of offense in 2007, (94th) with a balanced offensive attack that averaged 197.2 passing yards per game, (84th) and 143.3 rushing yards per game, (71st) and an excellent 27.8 points per contest, (61st).

Defensively, Wake Forest limited their opponents to 340.5 total yards per contest, (28th), including a miniscule 109.4 rushing yards per game, (14th) and just 22.2 points per contest, (29th).

The Baylor Bears (3-9 SU, 4-7 ATS, 6-5 O/U) have turned to former Houston coach Art Briles to lead their football program back to respectability, but Briles will have his work cut out in the powerful Big 12.

Offensively, the Bears return nine starters from last year’s unit which averaged 351.2 yards per game. Baylor’s offensive line, which allowed just 21 sacks last year, returns four starters. The Bears also return eight of their top nine receivers from a year ago, including four of five players who caught at least 30 balls in 2007.

Junior quarterback Blake Szymanski will likely start at quarterback after starting 10 games in 2007.

After playing a 4-2-5 defense the past five years, the Bears have switched to a 4-3 in 2008 with the arrival of new defensive coordinator Brian Norwood from Penn State.

The Bears return six starters on defense from a year ago, including their top two tacklers in junior safety Jordan Lake and junior linebacker Joe Pawelek who had 120 and 99 tackles, respectively, a year ago.

The Bears averaged a solid 351.2 total yards last season (86th), including a whopping 273.4 passing yards per game (27th) but managed to average just 18.2 points per game (112th) despite those eye-opening offensive statistics.

Defensively, Baylor allowed their opponents to average a whopping 461.6 total yards per game last season, including 279.2 passing yards per game, (111th) while putting up an enormous 37.0 points per contest (113th).

The Bears went 2-3 against the spread, (ATS) at home and 2-4 ATS on the road while recording a 2-3 O/U home record and 4-2 O/U road record.

Wake Forest went 6-1 ATS at home last season and 3-3 ATS on the road while posting a 3-4 O/U home record and 5-1 O/U road record.

Here is a look at some key trends for each team:

The Demon Deacons are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
The Demon Deacons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.
The Bears are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 home games.
The Bears are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
The Over is 5-1 in Demon Deacons last 6 road games.
The Under is 15-4-1 in Demon Deacons last 20 non-conference games.
The Over is 7-3 in Demon Deacons last 10 games overall.
The Under is 5-2 in Bears last 7 home games.

Analysis: I’m advising all BetUS NCAA college football bettors to take the Demon deacons to win this game and cover the spread, though I don’t think it will be a rout of epic proportions like some folks. Take the Demon Deacons and the ‘Under’ and you’ll be a happy camper when this game is finished.

NCAAF Free Picks: Wake Forest 31 Baylor 17

Wake Forest -12½ -110
Baylor +12½ -110

Over 52½ -110
Under 52½ -110

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