Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Duke Blue Devils Picks and Predictions January 25th 2025

Streaks Collide as No. 2 Duke Visits Wake Forest

The No. 2 Duke Blue Devils will put their 12-game winning streak on the line when they visit Wake Forest on Saturday in a pivotal ACC showdown in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Duke’s 12 consecutive wins mark the program’s longest streak since its 2015 national championship season. Meanwhile, Wake Forest (15-4, 7-1 ACC) enters riding its own six-game winning streak in conference play, the program’s longest since 1996-97.

“We know it’s going to be a big-time game, a big-time challenge,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “At the end of the day, are you winning games or are you not? And they’re winning games.”

Wake Forest Shows Grit in Tight Win Over North Carolina

The Demon Deacons are coming off a thrilling 67-66 home victory over No. 3 North Carolina on Tuesday, where they overcame poor outside shooting (2-for-15 on 3-pointers) and a first half without a single assist.

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Despite the ugly offensive stats, Wake Forest found a way to win, showcasing resilience and defensive toughness.

“When you don’t have your fastball, but you still find a way to win, that says something about this team,” Wake coach Steve Forbes said.

Forbes trusted his starters for the entire second half, not making a single substitution despite UNC going deep into its bench.

“I just liked the way we were playing,” Forbes said. “We asked them if they needed breaks, and they felt good.”

Duke’s Depth and Defense Present Major Challenge

Unlike Wake Forest, Duke has rotational depth and won’t hesitate to send waves of fresh players onto the court.

Sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor had a breakout game in last weekend’s 88-63 blowout of Boston College, scoring 20 points, his most since January 2024.

“The points came with his competitiveness, his defense, and everything else that he did,” Scheyer said.

Freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, who is averaging 19.2 points per game, has nine games with 20 or more points, including five in ACC play. Flagg poured in 28 points against Boston College, showing his elite offensive ability.

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Sallis vs. Flagg: Battle of Elite Scorers

Flagg and Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis enter the game averaging 19.2 points per game, making this a premier matchup between two of the ACC’s top scorers.

Sallis had seven straight games of 20+ points before falling short against UNC but remains the primary offensive weapon for the Demon Deacons.

Duke is well aware of Sallis’ game-changing ability, especially after he dropped 29 points in Wake’s upset of Duke last season.

“Ton of respect for Sallis and what he has done,” Scheyer said. “What he did to us last year at Wake certainly was a big-time performance.”

Home Dominance vs. Road Excellence

Wake Forest boasts a 10-0 record at home, already defeating in-state ACC rivals North Carolina and NC State in Winston-Salem.

Meanwhile, Duke’s 5-0 road record marks its best start in away games since the 2018-19 season when the Blue Devils won their first seven road games.

With both teams riding major winning streaks, something has to give on Saturday night as ACC supremacy hangs in the balance.