While most people hear “Thursday Night Football” and think NFL, this week the NCAA is giving us some college football on the gridiron Thursday evening on ESPN. Two ACC teams kick off their conference campaign as the Wake Forest Demon Deacons host the NC State Wolfpack. Both teams come into this game with two wins under their belt already this season, but one has faced much tougher opponents than the other. Let’s dive into the contest and find our favorite picks!
Editor’s Note: Lines are very similar and everything is a go. Decide for yourself if you’ll follow me on the spread or take the team total instead.
Head over to Betting News to check out what else I’ve got on the slate for Week 3, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.
NC State Wolfpack vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons NCAA Football Insights
Demond Claiborne has 212 rushing yards and three touchdowns this season
The hosts are 2-0 on the season and are coming off a huge win. Last week, they beat Western Carolina 42-10, scoring 21 points in the first and third quarters, and only giving up a garbage time touchdown. However in Week 1, they barely snuck out a win against Kennesaw State, beating the Owls 10-9 on a field goal with three minutes left. The Demon Deacons lost four straight down the stretch last year, and even with some new personnel, things might be rough this year. Can they get ready for this conference home opener on a short week?
CJ Bailey has turned it on for the Wolfpack. He’s completed 70.2% of his passes for 518 yards this season. Sure, he only has two touchdowns and one interception, but he’s added plenty to the offense with his legs. Bailey is averaging five yards per carry, running for 65 yards and three touchdowns already this year. The Wolfpack’s offense is set up for shootouts, but the defense needs to turn things on.
The Wolfpack opened things up against the East Carolina Pirates, beating them 24-17. They did allow 10 fourth quarter points, making the score much worse than the game actually was. Last week, they got into a shootout against the Virginia Cavaliers, beating them 35-31. They’re certainly more battle tested than Wake this early in the season. But can they pull off this conference win on the road?
Matchup Information – NC State vs. Wake Forest – September 11
- Venue & Location: Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium (Winston-Salem, NC)
- Date: Thursday September 11, 2025
- Kick Off: 7:30 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: ESPN
NC State vs. Wake Forest Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of September 11, 2025 at 9:36 a.m. eastern. Sign up today with Promo Code FREE250 for a 50% deposit bonus up to $250 as well as 100 Free Spins at the online casino.
Spread
- NC State -7 (-115)
- Wake Forest +7 (-105)
Moneyline
- NC State -285
- Wake Forest +234
Total
- Over 52 (-110)
- Under 52 (-110)
Last week, we backed NC State’s team total and we cleared midway through the third quarter. As I said, this team’s offense is already in midseason form, putting up 9.1 yards per pass attempt and 4.5 yards per carry, resulting in over 419 yards per game. They’re scoring nearly 30 as well, and I don’t see that slowing down against Wake Forest.
NC State vs. Wake Forest NCAA Football Picks and Predictions
Wesley Grimes and the NC State offense is clicking early this year
NC State vs. Wake Forest Prediction: NC State Wins & Covers, Over 53.5
Best Bet: NC State -7 (-110) Bovada
This Demon Deacons’ team hasn’t seen anybody, and they are in for a rude awakening. Kennesaw State has put up just nine points in each of their two games, and Western Carolina simply ain’t it. They haven’t played anyone, period. NC State has seen the East Carolina Pirates, and beat Virginia, a conference foe, although it didn’t count for their ACC record. Much, much tougher opponents than their hosts this weekend.
Regardless, the Wolfpack are battle tested. They’ve proven to be able to move the ball and put up points against solid defenses, and to be honest, I don’t think Wake Forest’s unit is all that great. I also endorse the Wolfpack’s Team Total over 30.5, although you might have to pay a little juice. However I think they cover this spread.
Virginia put up over 500 total yards of offense on the road against NC State, and were also 13/19 on third down. The Wolfpack’s defense certainly heard plenty about that from the coaches and how the offense saved their rear end last week. Expect the defense to come out firing on the road in their first ACC game of the year. Now, last year, CJ Bailey put up over 400 yards of offense and 30 points against Wake Forest, but two late touchdowns gave the Demon Deacons the win.
Give me the new and improved Wolfpack in this revenge spot. Both teams are trying to get ready for this game on a short week, and I trust NC State to be more well equipped to handle the quick turn around.
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