Clemson Tigers vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 24th 2022
Diego Garcia
We have ourselves a top 25 match-up in the ACC this weekend, as the #5 Clemson Tigers will visit the #21 Wake Forest Demon Deacons. These are two high-octane offenses going head to head on Saturday, as both of these teams are averaging over 40 points per game this season.
Wake Forest would love any chance to battle a top-five team in the country and would love it, even more, when they are at home, which they are in this week 4 contest. Fans should be sure to tune into this contest at noon ET.
Clemson vs. Wake Forest Odds
TV: ABC
MONEY LINE: Wake Forest (+225) vs. Clemson (-265)
SPREAD: Wake Forest +7.5 (-120) vs. Clemson -7.5 (-102)
GAME TOTAL: Over 56.5 (-108) vs. Under 56.5 (-112)
Clemson vs. Wake Forest Preview
The Clemson Tigers have lofty goals to get to the College Football Playoff this season, but they must take care of business on the road at Wake Forest. They come in with a 3-0 record and sit as the fifth-ranked team in the nation. These Tigers must continue to produce points at a rapid rate if they want to earn the win on Saturday.
For an offense that produces over 40 points and 400 yards on average, they lean heavily on their quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei. DJ has produced 662 yards through the air with five touchdowns on the season.
Clemson has an opportunity to make a statement against a ranked opponent this week. The ACC will be tuned in for this one as well as the National media.
Wake Forest finds itself with a 3-0 record and a top 25 team in the country. This team has goals to improve from their past lackluster seasons and they surely are on the right foot. This offense is currently averaging 42 points per game and 434 yards as well.
Quarterback Sam Hartman has been stellar for the Demon Deacons this season. He has 625 yards on the season and seven touchdowns to his name. This is a major test for Hartman and Wake Forest but they will be ready to play at home against the Tigers.
Clemson vs. Wake Forest Prediction
Overall this game will have both ACC Championship and College Football implications. These two teams are quite familiar with one another, but this match-up has the most to gain or lose for both of these schools.
If there is one thing that is a staple for both of these teams, it is the fact that they can score points and score in bunches. With both teams averaging 40 plus points per game, fans can expect plenty of fireworks in the endzone at Truist Field in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Final Score: 35-28 (Clemson)
EXTRA POINTS
1. Clemson is 1-2 against the spread this season.
2. Wake Forest is 2-1 against the spread this year.
3. Both teams are averaging over 40 points per game in 2022.
Best Bet: Over 56.5 (-108)
Clemson Tigers vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Recap SEP 24TH 2022
DJ Uiagalelei passed for 371 yards and a career-best five touchdown passes as No. 5 Clemson fought off an upset bid to post a 51-45 double-overtime victory over No. 21 Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon at Winston-Salem, N.C.
Uiagalelei's 21-yard scoring pass to Davis Allen on the second possession of overtime was the decisive score for Clemson (4-0, 2-0 ACC). Wake Forest (3-1, 0-1) was unable to score on its second attempt.
Allen caught two scoring passes for the Tigers, while Beaux Collins, Jake Briningstool and Brannon Spector had one apiece. Will Shipley rushed for 104 yards and one touchdown.
Wake Forest star Sam Hartman threw a school-record six touchdown passes but couldn't prevent Wake Forest from losing to Clemson for the 14th consecutive time. Hartman passed for 337 yards to raise his career total to 10,228, sixth-most in ACC history, leaping over four former players -- including ex-Tigers Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence.
Hartman also moved into sixth place in ACC history with 85 TD passes, jumping Kenny Pickett and Chris Weinke.
Jahmal Banks (six receptions, 141 yards) and Donavon Greene caught two touchdown passes apiece for Wake Forest. Blake Whiteheart and A.T. Perry also made scoring catches for the Demon Deacons.
Hartman hit Perry on an 8-yard scoring pass in the first overtime, but Clemson answered when Uiagalelei tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Collins to tie it at 45.
Earlier, Hartman tossed a 28-yard touchdown pass to Greene with 12:13 left in the third quarter to give the Demon Deacons a 21-20 lead. That marked the first time Clemson trailed in a game this season.
After Wake Forest got the ball back, Hartman tossed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Whiteheart to give Wake Forest an eight-point lead with 7:47 left in the period.
Clemson tied the score at 28 three-plus minutes later when Uiagalelei threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Allen and a tying two-point conversion throw to Collins.
The Demon Deacons went back ahead on Hartman's 25-yard pass to Greene with 1:19 left in the third, but the Tigers tied it again on Shipley's 1-yard run with 11:16 left in the contest.
Matthew Dennis kicked a 29-yard field goal to give Wake Forest a 38-35 edge with 8:07 left in regulation. But Clemson's B.T. Potter matched his career best with a 52-yarder to knot the score with 4:01 to play.
In the first half, Uiagalelei threw scoring passes of 12 yards to Briningstool and 41 yards to Spector and Potter kicked field goals of 24 and 38 yards as the Tigers held a 20-14 halftime lead. Hartman tossed touchdown passes of 36 and 5 yards to Banks.
--Field Level Media