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Wake Forest vs. Syracuse Week 1 Gambling Preview & Pick

On Thursday September 1st, 2011 its the Week 1 Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Syracuse Orange matchup. Odds currently have the Orange listed as 7-point favorites, the game’s total has been posted at 49.5. Here is a betting preview and matchup handicapping tips…

Big East Football Previews – Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Syracuse Orange

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons out of the ACC open their 2011 season on the road this Thursday night when the tangle with the Big East’s Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. All the action gets underway at 8 p.m. and the game will be available on ESPN3.com.

Date/Time: Thursday, Sept.1 8 p.m. (ET)
Venue: Carrier Dome- Syracuse, N.Y.
Broadcast: ESPN3.com
Demon Deacons at Orange Lines by BetOnline.com
Pointspread: Orange -7
Over/Under: 49 ½
Click here for the ATS Gambling Report for this game!

The odds makers have low expectations for Wake Forest coming into this season as it is a 125/1 longshot to win the ACC this year. With Florida State a prohibitive favorite to win the Atlantic Division, the Demon Deacons have the longest odds to win the division at 55/1. They are coming off a 3-9 record overall in 2010, but did go 2-2 straight-up in non-conference games.

Wake Forest is counting on sophomore Tanner Price to run the offense after throwing for 1,349 yards and seven touchdowns last season. If he gets off to a slow start, head coach Jim Grobe may turn to true freshman Kevin Sousa, who comes in with a ton of raw talent and will most likely work himself into the starting role sometime this season.

Syracuse is coming off a very successful 8-5 campaign in 2010 including a 36-34 victory over Kansas State in the New ERA Pinstripe Bowl. The Orange went 3-2 SU in their non-conference games last season, but lost 16-7 to its only ACC opponent, Boston College, as a 3.5-point home favorite. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Back from last season is quarterback Ryan Nassib along with six other starters from a Syracuse offense that averaged just 22.2 points a game. Nassib threw for 2,334 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2010, but he completed just 56.4 percent of his 358 attempts. The Orange will count on Anton Carter and Prince-Tyson Gulley to replace Delone Carter in the running game.

Only five starter’s return on defense, but Syracuse still has Chandler Jones on the defensive line, linebacker Marquis Spruill, and a pair of quality safeties in Phillip and Shamarko Thomas. Head coach Doug Marrone will have to rely on a number of underclassmen to step up and fill the remaining holes on this side of the ball.

Wake Forest 1-5 in its last six games against the spread and the total has stayed ‘under’ in six of its last nine games. Syracuse is 4-3 in its last seven games ATS and the total has stayed ‘under’ in seven of its last 10 games. This game should be a close, low scoring battle with two offenses that may take a couple of games to gel. Lean towards the Orange for a play on the spread, but the ‘under’ is the best bet in this game.

Betting Trends:

Murray State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Murray State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road

The Pick: Syracuse 17 Wake Forest 10

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By Dave Schwab

David Schwab is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. While not cheering for his beloved Philadelphia Eagles David can be found working on his blog at www.eaglesinc.com. David wants to hear from you so please comment below.