Virginia vs. Wake Forest Prediction & Odds
Number ten Virginia heads to Winston-Salem to play unranked Wake Forest at 2:00 PM ET Saturday afternoon on ESPNU. Can the Demon Deacons cover the 2.5-point spread as home underdogs?
Virginia is 14-3 on the year with their best wins coming over Baylor and Illinois. Their worst losses came against Miami and Pittsburgh. The Cavaliers are 6-11 against the spread this season.
Wake Forest is 14-5 this season with their best wins coming over Duke and Clemson. Their worst losses came against Loyola Marymount and Rutgers. The Demon Deacons are 11-8 against the spread this year.
Game Matchup and Betting Odds
651 Virginia Cavaliers (-2.5) vs. 652 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (+2.5); O/U 135.5
2:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 21, 2023
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC
Virginia vs. Wake Forest Public Betting Information
Our CBB Public Betting Information page indicates that the public favors the Demon Deacons in this contest. Our public betting data illustrates that 67% of public bets are on Wake Forest +2.5. Do note that these numbers are subject to change and could be different once tipoff rolls around, so be sure to check the link so you’re receiving the most up-to-date public betting data.
Virginia Game Notes
Virginia’s leading scorer is senior guard Armaan Franklin. The 6’4” Indianapolis native is averaging 12.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game for the Cavaliers this season. Franklin has really come on in Virginia’s last seven games as he’s recorded at least 11 points in each contest and the Cavaliers have gone 6-1 in that span.
Virginia’s most important player might be senior guard Kihei Clark. The 5’11” California product leads the Cavaliers in assists with 5.9 per game and is tied for the team lead in steals with 1.4 per game. If Franklin and Clark can score and take care of the ball Virginia has a good chance of covering on Saturday.
Wake Forest Game Notes
Wake Forest’s star player is senior guard Tyree Appleby. The former Florida Gator is pouring in 18.1 points per game for the Demon Deacons this season, a figure that ranks second in the ACC. Appleby has also been a skilled playmaker this season as he leads the ACC with 6.1 assists per game for Wake Forest this year.
Wake Forest’s Cameron Hildreth leads the team in rebounding with 6.3 per game. This is an impressive feat for someone like Hildreth who is a 6’4” 195-pound guard. The Worthing, England native has shown the ability to fill it up as well as he’s second on the Demon Deacons in scoring with 13.1 points per game. If Appleby and Hildreth can hit or exceed their scoring averages, Wake Forest has a chance to pull an upset this weekend.
Virginia vs. Wake Forest CBB Betting Trends
Virginia is 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games overall.
Virginia is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Wake Forest is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.
Wake Forest is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Virginia vs. Wake Forest CBB Prediction:
Wake Forest is 10-0 at home this season. They’ve also won their last 4 games in a row by an average of 13.8 points. The Demon Deacons have the same conference record (6-2) as the Cavaliers do so far this season. Virginia is still a good team this year, but they’re probably not going to make a Final Four run come March. The Cavaliers are 44th in the country in defensive efficiency. Defense has been Virginia’s calling card the past few seasons, but they don’t seem like an elite defensive squad this year. Every weekend ranked teams lose conference games on the road to unranked teams. I think that’s what happens in Winston-Salem on Saturday. Wake Forest has value at +125 on the money line, but I’ll take the Demon Deacons and the points as the pick.
CBB BETTING PREDICTION: WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS +2.5
