NC State has shown that it can be tough and gritty after a big 2-0 start to their 2025 campaign. However, the rebuilt Wake Forest is also looking good and were off to a 2-0 start as well, with the Demon Deacons having a statement win against Western Carolina in a one-sided 42-10 win.
Both teams are red-hot and still undefeated, and this raises the question of which among them have the higher odds at winning?
Wake Forest vs. NC State: Key Players to Watch
Both teams have shown that they can get things done on the field, and the one leading NC State would be quarterback CJ Bailey. He has been described as a “dynamic dual-threat quarterback” and has been effective for NC State so far. Over the last two games, which his team has won, he has thrown for 518 yards and two scores with 65 rushing yards and three scores, completing 70.4% of his passes.
For the players he might be passing the ball to, running back Hollywood Smothers currently leads the Wolfpack with 216 rushing yards, while wide receiver Wesley Grimes has also been big with 154 receiving yards, making him another good target for Bailey.
For the Demon Deacons, which features a totally revamped team from last year with a total of 35 transfers, quarterback Robby Ashford will be the one to lead them. He transferred from South Carolina and seeks to make a name for himself at Wake Forest, and has so far been successful after he threw for over 200 yards, resulting in a touchdown against Western Carolina.
As for the people he will be passing to, No. 1 on the list is running back Demond Claiborne, who was dominant vs. Western Carolina with 195 rushing yards. It should be noted that he suffered a rib injury in Week 1 and still performed well in Week 2.
Odds and Betting Lines for Wake Forest vs. NC State
With both teams coming off gutsy victories, the question now is, which team has better chances of winning? According to Draft Kings Sportsbook, NC State is the -7 (-112) favorite, while Wake Forest is the +7 (-108), which means the odds are quite close.
The Wolfpack are -290 on the moneyline, while the Demon Deacons are : +235, with the total being 53.5 (Over -115/Under -105).
Wake Forest vs. NC State Predictions
With both teams coming in hot, NC State may likely pull off a very close and hard-fought victory, especially as the Demon Deacons will also do everything in their power to stay undefeated.
Related:
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