We’ve got all-ACC action under the Thursday night lights in Week 10 as the 4-4 Wake Forest Demon Deacons travel to Durham to take on the 5-3 Duke Blue Devils.
Who emerges victorious? Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Duke vs. Wake Forest prediction.
Duke vs. Wake Forest Betting and DFS Preview
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. Want to take advantage of the Duke vs. Wake Forest odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page to place bets in your state.
- Spread
Duke -12.5 - Moneyline
Duke -520, Wake Forest +390 - Over/Under
45 points - Game time
7:30 p.m. ET - Location
Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC - Predicted Weather at Kick
35 degrees, 3-5 mph winds, clear - How to Watch
ESPN, FuboTV
Can’t decide if you should drop some dollars on Duke? Do you have a good feeling about Wake Forest? If you’re going to take advantage of the Duke vs. Wake Forest odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
Duke comes into this Thursday night game holding a 59-41-2 head-to-head advantage over the ACC foe and won the last time these two met — one year ago. The Blue Devils are enjoying a far more successful season than the Demon Deacons, despite Wake Forest only being one game back in overall record. Duke should comfortably have the measure on Thursday night.
MORE: ACC Standings
As long as Riley Leonard is fully healthy, Duke should also cover the spread on Thursday night. They’re 3-1 covering as a favorite, including twice as a double-digit favorite as they are against Wake Forest. Meanwhile, the Demon Deacons are 2-2 covering as an underdog, including failing to cover as a 21-point ‘dog last time out against Florida State.
With quarterback question marks at the time of writing, we could be set for a low-scoring affair — which is expected given the 45-point line. The two teams have combined to hit the over in just six of their 16 games this season. It should remain that way, without Duke vs. Wake Forest prediction tallying just 40 total points.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Duke Depth Chart | Wake Forest Depth Chart
- QB Riley Leonard, Duke ($9,000)
- QB Grayson Loftis, Duke ($7,000)
- QB Henry Belvin IV, Duke ($7,000)
- QB Mitch Griffis, Wake Forest ($6,200)
- QB Santino Marucci, Wake Forest ($6,200)
- RB Jordan Waters, Duke ($8,000)
- RB Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest ($7,000)
- RB Jaquez Moore, Duke ($6,500)
- RB Justice Ellison, Wake Forest ($6,000)
- RB Tate Carney, Wake Forest ($5,600)
- RB Jaylen Coleman, Duke ($4,700)
- RB Peyton Jones, Duke ($4,600)
- WR Jordan Moore, Duke ($7,400)
- WR Jalon Calhoun, Duke ($7,100)
- WR Jahmal Banks, Wake Forest ($6,500)
- WR Taylor Morin, Wake Forest ($6,000)
- WR Ke’Shawn Williams, Wake Forest ($5,600)
- WR Wesley Grimes, Wake Forest ($5,200)
- WR Sahmir Hagans, Duke ($5,200)
- TE Jeremiah Hadley, Duke ($5,000)
- TE Nicky Dalmolin, Duke ($4,900)
- TE Cameron Hite, Wake Forest ($4,800)
There are three college football games on Thursday to compile your DFS team from in Week 10. If you’re new to DFS, Fanduel Superflex contests require you to select a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, and a “superflex” that can be any of the above. Or you can also select a tight end for the Superflex spot.
In all honesty, your Duke vs. Wake Forest picks are going to be few and far between. If Blue Devils’ quarterback Leonard is fully healthy, he’s a viable starter for DFS and fantasy purposes with his dual-threat ability and a decent matchup to score good points in. He’s only the QB10 in the ACC right now but is a better option than either of the two Wake Forest quarterbacks.
Jordan Waters has been the main touchdown scorer for Duke this season, and as the RB6 in the ACC with 111.2 points, he could be a potential RB option if you can’t afford to place La’Damian Webb and Kimani Vidal in your DFS lineup. Buyer beware, however, as Wake Forest has allowed the least rushing touchdowns in the conference through eight games of the 2023 season.
Wake Forest wide receiver Jahmal Banks leads the Demon Deacons in reception and is the go-to guy in the Wake Forest offense. He also leads the team in touchdowns. He might be an option for one of your three WR spots in DFS, as might Duke’s Jordan Moore. That said, the passing game has been suboptimal for both of these ACC teams.
Prediction for Duke vs. Wake Forest
Okay, so we’ve furnished you with the Duke vs. Wake Forest odds and some DFS picks. Now, it’s time to close this thing out with our prediction. Can Wake Forest upset the odds and leave Durham with a win over Duke? Or will the Blue Devils book bowl eligibility by beating up on their conference rival?
Let’s begin with reasons why Wake Forest can win on Thursday night. Dave Clawson’s team is much better defensively than their average points allowed would have you believe. Yes, they’re averaging 24.5 points per game, which is outside the top 50 in the nation.
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Yet, that stat is slightly skewed by the shellacking from FSU. They’ve held four teams to 20 points or less.
They’ve shown that they can get into the backfield with regularity, with Jacob Roberts and Jasheen Davis both registering over five sacks. Davis also tallied 11.0 tackles for loss. Meanwhile, the secondary boasts jacked-up safety Malik Mustapha who’s a force in all phases. Meanwhile, Caelen Carson is one of the best cornerbacks in the nation.
The Demon Deacons, on their day, have the defense to cause Duke some problems. However, their offensive inadequacy has been clear for all to see. Fans were calling for third-stringer Santino Marucci to replace Griffis during the loss to FSU as the offense failed to produce a spark on drive after drive. There’s talent on the team, but they’ve not looked strong at all.
That should prove problematic against a Duke defense that ranks top 10 in the nation for points allowed and flies to the ball in all phases. Led by DeWayne Carter and Ja’Mion Franklin up front — a mismatch against a struggling Wake Forest offensive line — their secondary is particularly impressive with Chandler Rivers, Jaylen Stinson, and Al Blades all furiously flying to the ball.
Between the stronger defense and an offense that can be potent when quarterback Leonard is fully healthy and at his best, Duke can win this game with ease and get their season back on track after successive defeats. North Carolina awaits in Week 11.
Prediction: Duke 27, Wake Forest 13