Conference realignment has set the stage for some unique coast-to-coast matchups, especially in the ACC. This Week 9 clash brings together the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Stanford Cardinal.
Both teams have faced challenges this season. The Cardinal have lost four in a row after a promising ACC debut, while the Demon Deacons stand at 3-4, with just one conference win. As Wake Forest heads west, dive into our Wake Forest vs. Stanford prediction for insights on the spread and total.
Wake Forest vs. Stanford Betting Preview
All Wake Forest vs. Stanford odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. The CFN Spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Pick ’em - Spread
Wake Forest -3 - Moneyline
Wake Forest -155, Stanford +130 - Over/Under
52.5 points - Game Time
3:30 p.m. ET - Location
Leonard Arnold Football Stadium | Palo Alto, Cali. - Predicted Weather at Kick
68 degrees, cloudy, three mph winds - How To Watch
ACC Network
Wake Forest and Stanford have similar issues in the modern transfer portal era as academically elite institutions with smaller student bodies. While each team has found success in the past with unique offensive systems, it’s been a struggle to string together wins in recent seasons.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The spread of Wake Forest -2.5 has stayed relatively stable since opening, while the total has slowly come down from its opening number of 55 points. Vegas implies a final score close to 28-26 in favor of the Demon Deacons
Wake Forest’s Winning Probability
According to CFN FPM, Auburn has a 49.4% chance of flying back home with a win on Saturday. A win against the Cardinal would give the Demon Deacons a chance to make a bowl, with three games remaining with projected spreads of less than five points.
- at Stanford: 49.4%
- vs. California: 37.4%
- at North Carolina: 47.2%
- at Miami-FL: 6.4%
- vs. Duke: 36.9%
Stanford’s Winning Probability
Conversely, Stanford has a 50.6% chance of overcoming the Demon Deacons at home. Even with a win, bowl eligibility looks like a long shot as the Cardinal sit at 2-5 and will be underdogs in three of their remaining five games.
- vs. Wake Forest: 50.6%
- at NC State: 31.2%
- vs. Louisville: 22.6%
- vs. California: 34.9%
- at San Jose State: 50.0%
Prediction for Wake Forest vs. Stanford
This game is a tricky one to call, as it’s only the fifth ACC matchup ever held in California. Logic might suggest that a cross-country trip would work against visiting teams, but so far, it hasn’t played out that way.
Then again, that might be because neither California nor Stanford has fielded particularly strong teams.
So far, the visitors have won all four previous games in the Golden State, covering the spread in three of them (with Miami’s comeback win over California being the lone exception).
Stanford is 0-2 at home this season against East Coast teams, missing the spread by an average of 14.25 points. The Cardinal are also in a four-game losing streak since their season-opening ACC win over Syracuse, with each loss coming by 24 points or more.
That said, teams like Clemson, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, and SMU are all a step up from Wake Forest.
The Demon Deacons, however, have been an entertaining team to watch. They’ve taken hard losses to two CFP contenders, blew out their FCS opener, and went 2-2 in their remaining games, with all four of those coming down to the last possession.
Not too long ago, it seemed like Dave Clawson’s job was in jeopardy, but he’s managed to right the ship. The offense has been a bright spot, and while stronger teams can still capitalize on a softer defense, Wake Forest’s slow mesh attack has become a real threat to unprepared defenses.
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This matchup is between two similarly talented teams heading in opposite directions. Typically, that’s when it’s smart to lean on the team with momentum—right now, that’s Wake Forest. While Stanford has little to play for outside of pride, a win here puts Wake Forest within reach of a bowl game, which would be a big step for this young team.
Back the slow mesh and look for the Demon Deacons to handle business on the road.
Prediction: Wake Forest 34, Stanford 24
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