Chip Chirimbes
New Mexico vs. Wyoming
Play: New Mexico -125
Now, wait a second...opening week Wyoming was headed to Iowa and the rave was about the Cowboys Heisman hopeful quarterback Josh Allen and the Hawkeyes won easy 24-3. So, one might expect that a Mountain West clubs would get punished by a Big Ten school but they haven't come around at all. Take a step back and see that Wyoming is 4-3 and are 4-0 ATS in their last four. So, why are they an underdog to a 3-4 team from the MWC. The Lobos come in losing their last two but are 4-0 against the Cowboys in their last four meetings.
3G-Sports
Virginia vs. Pittsburgh
Play: Virginia +2.5
With all the talented WRs the Cavaliers have - plus the momentum of RB Jordan Ellis - Virginia is too hard to defend when they get moving the ball downfield in confident rhythm. Olamide Zaccheaus will certainly see more targets because of the sloppy coverage skills at DB for Pittsburgh. The passing game of Virginia this season, has been pretty solid across the board. QB Kurt Benkert has been completing 62% of his passes - which will be far too much for a slow footed defense like Pittsburgh. What is going to be a downfall for Pittsburgh - is their lousy ability to not be able finish off their opponents, where they have a potential lead. Pittsburgh needs to have guys on the field who won't fumble or turn the ball over - their guys have let the ball hit the ground a bit more than they want at 5 costly lost fumbles. Pittsburgh lacks the push to get the tough yards when forced to move the ball. Virginia's DTs will make them regret trying to go up the middle, I expect an ugly game. Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall and should get the win and cover on the road here Saturday afternoon.
Power Sports
Arkansas vs. Mississippi
Pick: Arkansas +3.5
The once-heralded SEC West is short on depth this year as it's basically "Alabama vs. everybody else." The loser of this game is very likely to finish in the division basement. Coming into the season, we knew Ole Miss would struggle as their (now ex-) head coach (Hugh Freeze) had to be dumped in July under the most embarrassing set of circumstances. Less embarrassing, but embarrassing nonetheless, has been Arkansas' performance this season. The Hogs are 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS, having been run off the field in every SEC game thus far (avg loss by 24.2 PPG!). So something is going to have to give Saturday in this early kick in Oxford.
I give Ole Miss a "whirl" last week, but they let me down in a 40-24 home loss to LSU (were TD underdogs). The Rebels have fared no better than the Razorbacks at the betting window this season as their ATS record is now 1-5-1. That one cover came two weeks ago, at Vanderbilt's expense, as the offense exploded for 57 points. But in the three games that preceded that victory, all losses mind you, the Rebels totaled only 42 points. Arkansas' defense has been routinely been shredded in conference play, but I'm not certain that happens here. Instead, what I envision is both teams trading scores and neither creating any kind of separation. That's where taking the points comes in and for some reason this number keeps going up!
Arkansas has beaten Ole Miss three years in a row, with last year's win being a 34-30 as seven-point dogs in Fayatteville. Both schools were actually ranked going into that game, so you can see "how the mighty have fallen." It's been 30 or more points scored every time for the Razorbacks during this three game win streak over the Rebels. The problem here for Ole Miss is that QB Shea Patterson, the only player that could have turned their season around, is done for the rest of 2017 due to injury (knee). He was the SEC's leading passer going into last week. Of course, Arkansas is also w/o its starting QB (Austin Allen), but at this point, they're used to it as he's missed the previous two games. There is also a slight chance he could play here, though his return has been called "highly questionable" by Bielema. Still, all things considered, in a battle of nosediving teams, I'll grab the points.
Zack Cimini
Virginia vs. Pittsburgh
Pick: Pittsburgh -2
Breaking out for Pittsburgh last week was running back Darrin Hall. Hall rushed for over two hundred yards surpassing his total yards for the season in one game. He’ll be depended upon again this week against a Virginia team that faltered 41-10 last week against Boston College. While Virginia’s strength of schedule has downgraded their 5-2 mark, expect them to bounce back from last week’s performance.
Jim Feist
Florida Atlantic / Western Kentucky Over
Revenge minded Florida Atl had this one circled on its calendar after the 52-3 embarrassment last year. New coaching staff this year, but the players still remember the whopping they took. HC Lane Kifflin is 3-0 both SU and ATS in conference play with FAU. Last week FAU put a pasting on North Texas, 69-31, gaining over 800 yards in the process. Western Ky without their top QB has just gotten by much inferior competition in recent weeks. WKY is also a very one dimensional team, all pass, no rush. WKY is last in the nation in rushing with just 81 yards per game on the ground. The way FAU scored last week and with revenge on their minds, this one could get ugly too. I'm looking for lots of point in this game.
Jeff Benton
Your Saturday comp play is Miami-Florida to not just win at North Carolina, but win in blowout fashion.
Let's face it, this is the year to payback any loss you may have incurred in recent meetings with the Tar Heels, as this year's UNC team to put it bluntly...STINKS!
North Carolina has dropped their last 5, and they have averaged just 11 points per game in doing so. The linesmakers haven't helped at al, as the Heels are also on an 0-5 spread slide.
Into Chapel Hill comes unbeaten Miami who does have look-ahead games with Virginia Tech and Notre Dame on the horizon, but first things first, and that is to avenge back-to-back series losses to North Carolina.
Mark Richt's team is 6-1 against the spread as the road favorite, and they are on an overall 8-3 spread roll. Meanwhile, UNC stands at 1-8-1 against the spread their last 10 times on the gridiron.
Big number, but double-revenge is huge today.
'Canes to name it.
3* MIAMI-FLORIDA
Tommy Brunson
This ACC battle between Duke and Virginia Tech has been a hotly-contested series the past 4 years, as each school owns a pair of wins.
This year? Not so much, as the Blue Devils have really seen their season turn for the worst as they hit Blacksburg with straight up losses in each of their last 4 - 0-3-1 against the spread - that after opening with wins in each of their first 4 games this year!
V-Tech has lost only to Clemson this season, and they just cakewalked past North Carolina, 59-7 last weekend. The Hokies defense has been having its way lately, and while Duke does sport some money-making underdog numbers, I will toss them all out of the window.
This game was originally slated for an early afternoon kick-off, but has been pushed back to a 7:20 pm eastern time start. That fact tells me this game has some added importance to the home team as they look to stoke the flames as we get closer to bowl season.
Go on and lay the wood with the Hokies.
2* VIRGINIA TECH
Tommy Brunson
Comp play for Saturday is for Georgia to continue on their "Payback Tour 2017".
UGa is holding steady at # 3 in the rankings, and they have been able to avenge losses this season at the expense of Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Missouri, and now they take dead aim at a simply inferior Florida team that enters at just 3-3 this season.
The Gators have gotten the better of the Bulldogs each of the past 3 seasons, with all 3 of the wins coming by double-digits!
Georgia has covered each of their last 5 games away from home since last season's "Cocktail Party" loss to Florida, while Florida is currently on 2-6-2 spread slide their last 10, and a 1-5-1 ATS dowturn their last 7 when installed as the underdog.
As long as Kirby Smart's team did not use their bye-week to read their press clippings, this game should be a lopsided win for the undefeated Dawgs from Athens.
Have to lay away with Georgia today. Go Dawgs, sic'em...woof, woof, woof!
5* GEORGIA
Stephen Nover
Texas vs. Baylor
Play: Under 57
Texas has played the No. 1 and No. 2 offenses during its past two games. The Longhorns held Oklahoma State and Oklahoma to a combined average of 21 points a game.
Now the Longhorns step way down in class to take on winless Baylor, which is 78th in scoring and 90th in rushing. The Longhorns shouldn't have a problem as their defense has come together in their last six games to become one of the best stop units in the country. During this time frame, the Longhorns are giving up 18.3 points a game, 372.5 yards and just 97 yards rushing.
Previous to playing Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, the Longhorns had faced Kansas State, Iowa State and USC. Those three teams all ranked among the top-47 in scoring.
I envision Baylor having a good defensive game, too. Texas quarterback Shane Buechele has limited mobility due to an ankle sprain. The Longhorns rank 94th in sacks allowed.
Opponents have had success running on the Bears. But I question just how effective Texas' ground attack really is?
The Longhorns rank 77th in rushing at 151.4 yards a game. However, that includes 406 yards the Longhorns rushed for against San Jose State. If you discount that game against the overmatched 1-7 Spartans, Texas would average only 108 yards on the ground per game and just 2.8 yards a carry.
ASA
Texas vs. Baylor
Play: Baylor +9
The Bears sit at 0-7 but they’ve been very competitive in their home games. Last week they lost here to a very good WVU team 38-36. It wasn’t a fluke as the yardage was pretty much dead even. Their most recent home game before WVU was Oklahoma and they took the Sooners to the wire losing 49-41. They actually led that game vs Oklahoma late in the 3rd quarter. The only game the Bears have not been competitive was @ Oklahoma State. All 6 of their other games have been decided 14 or less which is significant at they are getting almost double digits here (currently +9). They catch Texas in a great spot for a letdown. The Horns have played 3 consecutive down to the wire games and they are bound to be a bit spent both emotionally and physically. Two of those three games went to OT including last week’s 13-10 home loss to Oklahoma State. Texas also has a huge game on deck with conference leader TCU so no matter what the coaches tell them about 0-7 Baylor, you can bet the Longhorn players will have trouble bringing their A game here. Texas will also be without their starting QB Ehlinger who sustained a concussion in last week’s game. Former starter Buechele will get the nod here and while he does have experience, he has played in only one game this entire month and only attempted 2 passes in that game. He’s bound to be rusty. This is a very dangerous spot for Texas. We think this game goes to the wire with Baylor having a shot at the outright win.
Vic Duke
Buffalo s. Akron
Play: Akron +1
Home team in this series is 5-0 SU/ATS and won't fight the trend here. Zips are 4-0 ATS off a loss and do have some playmakers on both sides of the ball; moreover, Akron has been a solid 3rd down defense with a ball hawking secondary. I do realize Buffalo has been in virtually every game and a spread darling at 7-1 ATS; however, Akron is on a nice 4-1 ATS run and will give the edge to Terry Bowden's boys, especially getting points. Dog in this series is 7-3 ATS.
Ben Burns
Flyers vs. Maple Leafs
Play: Under 6½
Toronto's high-scoring start to the season has provided us with an O/U line of 6.5 for this evening's game against the Flyers. I feel that's generously high. The Leafs are off a loss, just their second setback in their last six games. After the previous loss, they responded by playing a lower-scoring game, winning 3-2.
After back-to-back losses, the Flyers are going to want to clean up defensively themselves. Prior to dropping those two games, they'd allowed just five combined goals in four games. They've scored two or less in three of their last four.
Over the past two seasons, the Flyers have only played one road game which had an O/U greater than 5.5. That game stayed below the total. Going back further finds the 'under' at 89-72, excluding 'pushes,' the past 150+ times that they played a road game with an O/U line of six or greater.
Two previous 2017 meetings (both last season) between these teams had final scores of 4-2 and 2-1. Consider the Under 6.5 goals.
Scott Rickenbach
Wisconsin vs. Illinois
Play: Illinois +27½
Wisconsin burned me in this spot last week when they kicked a late field goal with less than a minute to go in a 25 point win versus Maryland that otherwise would have ended as a 22 point win. No reason for the Badgers to kick that field goal other than to make their alumni happy who had bet on them. In any event, Wisconsin continues their easy schedule as they have been a double digit favorite in every game this season. Certainly they are a much better team than the Illini but the Badgers have yet to cover back to back games this season. Also, it is homecoming weekend in Champaign and I fully expect a strong effort from Illinois here. Teams have been running on the Illini but that of course also runs clock and makes it difficult to build up a huge margin of victory like you see with passing teams. The Badgers will certainly run here and Wisconsin will certainly win here but it won't be by more than 21 in my opinion. Only twice this season have the Illini lost by more than 22 and both those games were on the road and only one defeat was by more than 24 points. Also, there is certainly some history on our side here too! The Badgers are 1-5 ATS as road favorites of more than 17 points when facing an opponent with a losing record. Wisconsin won by 11 in their most recent visit to Illinois. Similar result likely here.
TJ Pemberton
Blackhawks vs. Avalanche
Play: Avalanche +115
The Chicago Blackhawks remain on the road on Saturday after losing in Vegas 4-2 on Tuesday. Chicago is 5-3-2 on the season and will visit Colorado to take on the Avalanche on Saturday. The Blackhawks are 2-2-1 on the road this season. Chicago averages 3.40 goals per game which ranks 8th in the NHL. Anton Forsberg will make his 3rd start of the season in the net for Chicago. Forsberg is 0-0-2 on the season with 6 goals allowed. Forsberg carries a 2.81 goals against average and a .929 save percentage.
The Colorado Avalanche remain on their home ice after losing to the Stars 5-3 on Tuesday. Colorado is 5-5 on the season and 5th in the Central. The Avalanche is 3-1 on their home ice this season. Colorado averages 3.11 goals per game which ranks 15th in the NHL. Jonathan Bernier will make his 4th start in the goal for the Avalanche. Bernier is 1-2 on the season with 9 goals allowed. Bernier carries a 3.03 goals against average and a .894 save percentage.
SPORTS WAGERS
BAYLOR +8½ over Texas
Both these teams have improved substantially since a catastrophic season opener, but only Texas has something to show for it. The Longhorns mostly received their makeover in the offseason and by the end of camp, they were already a much better team than the 2016 edition. The opening weekend Maryland loss was not representative of where the team really was. Baylor truly was what it was in its opening loss to Liberty, and the Bears' progress has been more gradual, though no less real. Now the improving Bears meet the team that started the current 13-game regular season downswing. Baylor entered last year's tilt unbeaten and as a small road favorite over a Texas squad that had lost four of its past five and squandered the promise of the opening win over Notre Dame. It was an odd game, and Baylor didn't get the breaks in a 35-34 loss. This year's Bears may be winless, but they've been competitive. The most recent step was a furious 23-point fourth-quarter rally against West Virginia on Saturday that fell a two-pointer short of overtime.
The question for the Longhorns is whether they are out of gas right now. Like Utah last week, the ‘Horns are coming off two tough, narrow losses as underdogs against league favorites that essentially knocked the team out of the conference race. The Utes were simply out of gas and couldn't get off the mat as a favorite the following week. For Texas to do so in this morning road game will be especially difficult since winless Baylor is an uninspiring target and TCU is on deck. The Horns' last three were a draining gauntlet: double-overtime versus Kansas State, a big deficit then near-comeback in a physical game versus hated rival Oklahoma, then a third overtime game this year -- a missed upset chance versus the league co-favorite that ended with the most freshman mistake ever from a freshman quarterback who had just seized the job but is now ailing. Does this team have anything left in the tank this week? We'll be trying to find out. There's a lot going on in this matchup, and if it all comes together, it could be something we’re always seeking: a spot where, independent of opponent, one side is ripe to be faded and the other is on the verge of its best game. We’re calling the upset here but must take these sweet points.
UTEP +15½ over UTSA
As a 10½-point home favorite, the Road Runners of UTSA would lose outright to these Miners last season by a score of 52-49. Pundits and analysts have called this one a “revenge game” for Texas San-Antonio and we suppose it is, but so what. Revenge games can be a motivating factor but not when that team is favored by more than two converted TD’s. The lofty spread takes the bite out of the revenge oriented squad when they are expected to win by such a large amount. Now, one year later, the Road Runners are an even bigger favorite on the road and that’s due to an exodus of players on UTEP, including running back Aaron Jones, who was the most prolific rusher in school history. This may appear to be the ideal situation to swallow points with UTSA with respect to the vindication angle and the fact UTEP remains winless on the year but we don’t see it that way at all. The better angle here is that the dog is being totally disrespected.
We are not here to argue whether UTEP is a good team or not, as its track record speaks for itself. Our goal is find value in the numbers and look very closely at teams that the market is shying away from. The Miners of Texas El Paso are one such team. Furthermore, the Road Runners pulled off one of the great early season upsets when they disposed of Baylor to put themselves on the map while UTEP was losing to Rice in the same week. When looking at common opponents, give another big edge to the favorite, as they defeated Rice and lost by just two points to Southern Miss, a team the Miners lost to by 24 points last week. That’s all fodder but this is a huge number for an unproven favorite to offer a defensively oriented, clock-grinding underdog. No matter how you break it down, the Road Runners have developed some losing habits of their own and we're not completely convinced that this bunch is ready to win, let alone totally put away a team on the road.
UNLV +21½ over FRESNO STATE
Buying low and selling high is a practice we champion and this market typifies the scenario where we can put that ideology to work. The two teams come into this contest on quite contrasting notions. UNLV has lost four of their last five outings overall and are the victims of the greatest upset against the spread in college football history when it fell at home against the Howard Bison as a 45-point choice on opening weekend. We’re not going to go into a lot of detail regarding the Rebels of UNLV because they are not are target here. They just happen to be the opponent of an overpriced outfit that must be faded this week.
Fresno State has won their last four outings and has been a broken slot machine this season as a whole. Fresno State has been the recipient and not the giver of such lofty point spreads. They were taking back 7½-points last week at SDSU and whacked them outright by 25 points. When tasked with going up against the likes of Alabama and Washington earlier this season, the Bulldogs were taking back enhanced points then too. Two weeks ago, as a home dog to New Mexico, Fresno destroyed them, 38-0. Though it seems like the ideal time to get aboard this Fresno State gravy train, we warn backers that often that timing is past due. This is a common feature of market correction. Situationally, this scenario sets up perfectly for Fresno State to be the recipient of said correction. Fresno State was completely off the market radar all season up until last week when they defeated such a well- respected and hot program like SDSU in the Aztecs own barn. That win prompted folks to have a close look at Fresno State and they liked what they saw. Now Fresno State is spotting its biggest load of lumber against a FBS opponent in 2017 on the heels of their biggest win and to that we say, the timing to get behind the Bulldogs is way off. Instead of being the hunter, the Bulldogs are now the hunted and we know how that can play out. One of our strongest theories is play against overreactions and this is classic case of that.
OHIO STATE -7 over Penn State
Normally we stay out of high-profile contests such as this because the oddsmakers are very aware of the heavy action that will pour in and therefore the lines are that that much sharper or tighter. However, when the price on one side looks too appealing, red flags are raised. Penn State enters this battle of Big Ten heavyweights as the #2 ranked team in the country. The implication is that only the juggernaut Alabama Crimson Tide are better. The Nittany Lions also enjoy the services of the current favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, Saquon Barkley at their disposal. This is a football team that is expected to be an across-the-board favorite to repeat as Big Ten Champion and qualify for the College Football Playoff. Just last week, PSU was involved in another high profile game versus Michigan and anyone that bet against the Nittany Lions realized very early that they had made a big mistake. As a 7½-point choice (game opened at 9½ and was bet down late), PSU destroyed the Wolverines and now one can get behind this #2 ranked team taking back a converted TD?! Imagine for a second if you can, the Crimson Tide taking back six or seven points! Ohio State’s market appeal took a massive hit earlier this year when a then #2-ranked Ohio State hosted a #5-ranked Oklahoma in a pivotal match-up of similar feel and fanfare. OSU was a similar 7½-point favorite over the Sooners and got smoked by a score of 31-16. Surely, the market doesn’t want to make that mistake again and get behind the Buckeyes spotting significant points against what is perceived as a better team than OU.
Let us now recap what we know. Penn State was a big favorite over Michigan last week and anyone that bet against PSU was burned badly. In Week 2, OSU was a big favorite over OU and didn’t come close to covering. They lost outright in fact. Those that bet against PSU last week are not going to make that same mistake and those that swallowed the points in Week 2 with Ohio State are not going to make that same mistake again either. That’s when we step in. The oddsmakers aren’t idiots. They 100% know what this line was going to do. In fact, it even goes deeper than that. Heavy action has been pouring in on the dog all week, yet the line has moved from -6½ to -7, thus enticing even more money on the dog. The oddsmakers have taken a big position here in a high stakes, high profile game and when they do that, we want to be on their side. There is no breaking down the X’s and O’s here. This is being aware and recognizing a position that the line is trying to entice us into taking. Win or lose, we’re confident we’re making the right choice and we urge all PSU backers to proceed with extreme caution.
BYU -9 over San Jose State
If you read the headlines in Provo, you’d think the sky is falling. Their beloved BYU Cougars are 1-7 and averaging just 12 points per game on offense this season. The Cougars were called “historically bad” in the local paper with the use of a real picture from this past weekend of a broke down semi-truck carrying the teams’ equipment as a cute way to sum up BYU’s season. Expectations were high last week when the Cougs got the chance to face off with East Carolina, a team that sports the worst defense in FBS but BYU got whacked 33-17 in a game that wasn’t even that close. It’s been doom and gloom all season for the Cougars, as the only game they’ve won was in Week 1 when they defeated over Portland State 20-6 but failing to cover as a -35 point favorite. That started a trend that has now dragged on for their entire 2017 campaign. That’s right, the Cougars have not covered a spread in eight tries this season. Hell, it took them four games to score 39 total points so you can believe that was the last time that BYU was a double-digit favorite. That's why this week’s spread against San Jose State stinks to high heaven.
As bad as it sounds for BYU, the Spartans of San Jose State have been just as dreadful. SJSU is 123rd in red zone success this season scoring on just 53.4% of trips inside the 20. Defensively, the Spartans have allowed more than 40 points and 500 yards per game on average in 2017. San Jose State has been outgained in every game this season but two, the first was Week 1 against cupcake Cal Poly and the second was in its last game, a 37-26 loss to Hawaii two weeks ago. We often like fading teams coming off a bye as they are often flat and sloppy and that is bad news for a Spartans team that has turned the ball over more than any other team in college football.
On paper, this might just look like a game between two of the worst offenses in the nation, with just two wins between them in 16 tries this season, and it is, but to the market, they see one team that is 3-4-1 against the spread and another that is 0-8. That BYU hasn’t cashed a ticket this season is almost impossible to imagine and now oddsmakers are asking the Cougars to cover double digits points when they’ve barely been able to score 11 points on a regular basis all year. That is going to be a hard bet for many to make. Also not lost in this market is the fact the Cougars have not beat an FBS team in over 300 days. The books set this game total at a low 46½. Combined with the spread, it means only one of these teams is likely to put up big points and BYU’s defense is the superior unit here by a wide, wide margin. Imagine swallowing this many points with a winless ATS squad. It’s the prudent play.
WAKE FOREST +110 over Louisville
With guys like Rick Pitino and Bobby Petrino at the helm of their two biggest money-making athletic programs, Louisville is getting what it deserves with this latest controversy. What’s so funny is that it wasn’t a sex extortion scandal or prostitutes for potential recruits that brought Pitino and eventually former athletic director Tom Jurich down, but a pay to play program involving a major shoe company. In his second turn as the Cardinals head football coach, Petrino has kept his nose relatively clean with just some embarrassing Twitter activity on his rap sheet until last season’s "WakeyLeaks" scandal. In case you forgot, Cardinals’ coaches ended up with the Demon Deacons’ gamelan before their game last November. Petrino said he had no idea how Louisville ended up with Wake Forest's plays but he also did not deny using that information to his advantage. The Cardinals won easily that day 44-12 but failed to cover as 34½-point chalk. In six games laying points this season, the Cardinals have covered just one time in a 47-35 win over North Carolina as a -11½-point fav. Expectations were high in Louisville before the season started with last year’s Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson returning under center but the Cardinals' shot at the playoffs went up in smoke with a double-digit loss at N.C. State three weeks ago. They then chased that with a 45-42 home loss to Boston College as a -20 point favorite in what Petrino called one of his worst losses as a coach. Last week at two-win Florida State, the Cardinals were +6-point dogs and won outright but despite the W, we have to wonder what Louisville’s mindset is now that this season is a wash. In light of Louisville's most recent troubles on and off the field, Petrino is being held in high regard as he navigates this program through tough times but never forget that this guy is a total dirt-bag. We doubt coach Dave Clawson and the Demon Deacons have.
We stated that Wake Forest was high on our radar last week and while we did not cash our ticket, we will not be deterred by their loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday. Wake is now 4-3 after a 4-0 start to the season but it had a half time lead at GT before being outscored 25-3 in the second half on the back of three long touchdown runs of 42, 49 and 70 yards respectively. Prior to last week, the Deacons made good showings in losses to FSU and Clemson. Wake Forest might sit at the bottom of the ACC Atlantic standings but that doesn’t mean it is an easy out. The Demon Deacons have been a double-digit dog just once this season and covered as a 21 point pooch on the road in Clemson. Wake Forrest was embarrassed in this spot last season with its leaked game plan dominating national headlines. The underhanded way the Cardinals went about that victory has mostly been swept under the rug but they remember it in Winston-Salem. For Clawson's Deacons, this is another signature game and while they took a step back last week, there are going to be bumps in the road for any program on the road to recovery. The fact WF has gone from a 30+ point pooch to taking back just a field goal in this series after one season shows how far it has come in a short time. The market has not caught on that Wake Forest is an ACC team on the rise. A formerly pedestrian offense has finally caught up with a reliable defense and the roster now has ACC-caliber depth. This bunch is ready to compete with anybody in the ACC. Wake outright is the call.