Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Mississippi Rebels Picks and Predictions September 14th 2024

Coming into this week three non-conference matchup, the Ole Miss Rebels are 2-0 on the season, and they are on the road vs. the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Kick-off is set for 6:30 ET from Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem. The game can be seen on CW. Ole Miss is favored by -23.5 points, and the over/under line is currently 63.5 points. Wake Forest is 1-1 on the season.

Ole Miss vs. Wake Forest Key Information

• Teams: Rebels at Demon Deacons
• Where: Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium Winston-Salem
• Date: Saturday, September 14th
• Betting Odds MISS -2328 | WAKE +1074 O/U 63.5

After making your picks, it's key to understand how odds impact your winnings. Check out our NCAAF Odds page for more details.

The Rebels Can Win If…

Ole Miss is now 2-0 after a dominating 52-3 win over Middle Tennessee. The Rebels, who were -42 point favorites, easily covered the spread, and the game’s total score of 55 points fell short of the 62-point over/under line.

Ole Miss took control early, leading 17-0 after the first quarter. Middle Tennessee managed a field goal, but the Rebels added two more touchdowns to lead 31-3 at halftime. Ole Miss continued to pour it on in the second half, outscoring Middle Tennessee 21-0 to seal the win.

Ole Miss’ offense was unstoppable in their 52-3 win, racking up 655 total yards and 34 first downs. The Rebels’ ground game was particularly impressive, with 258 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Henry Parrish Jr. led the way with 165 yards on just 14 carries, finding the end zone four times. Jaxson Dart was efficient through the air, completing 92.6% of his passes for 377 yards and one touchdown, resulting in a passer rating of 131.1.

The Rebels’ passing attack totaled 397 yards, with Tre Harris being the top receiver, hauling in nine catches for 130 yards.

Ole Miss’s defense is coming off a game in which they allowed just three points and 279 total yards. Middle Tennessee managed just 28 rushing yards against the Rebels, and Ole Miss picked off one pass while holding the Blue Raiders to 251 yards through the air.

• Ole Miss will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 3-0 over their past three games. Against the spread, the team is 3-0 in these same games while going 2-1 on the over/under.
• The Ole Miss Rebels have gone 9-1 over their last ten regular season games. Their record against the spread in this stretch is 5-3-2 to go along with an over-under mark of 4-6.

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The Demon Deacons Can Win If…

Wake Forest is now 1-1 after a 31-30 loss to Virginia. The Demon Deacons were +1 point underdogs and managed to push vs. the spread. The over/under line was set at 55.5 points, but the teams combined for 61 points, surpassing the total.

After leading 10-3 in the first quarter, Wake Forest fell behind by 3 points at halftime (20-17). The Demon Deacons then trailed 30-17 in the third quarter but managed to close the gap to 30-27. Wake Forest took a 30-17 deficit in the 3rd quarter and made things interesting by closing the gap to 30-27. However, after taking a 30-17 deficit into the 3rd quarter, Wake Forest closed the gap to 30-27. They then took a 30-27 deficit into the 4th quarter and scored a touchdown to take a 30-27 lead. Virginia would score the final points of the game to hand Wake Forest the loss.

Wake Forest’s offense generated 544 yards in their narrow 31-30 loss to Virginia, with 403 yards coming through the air. Hank Bachmeier completed 64.3% of his passes for 403 yards, throwing one touchdown and finishing with a passer rating of 103.57. Donavon Greene was his top target, hauling in 11 receptions for 166 yards.

The Demon Deacons moved the chains 25 times but struggled on the ground, managing just 141 rushing yards. Demond Claiborne led the ground game with 86 yards on 21 carries and scored two rushing touchdowns.

Wake Forest’s defense will be looking to improve after giving up 430 total yards in their last game. Virginia’s offense found success through the air, throwing for 357 yards and three touchdowns. The Demon Deacons’ secondary did come up with two interceptions, but they allowed 33 completions on 43 pass attempts. On the ground, Wake Forest’s defense was solid, holding Virginia to just 73 rushing yards on 28 carries.

• The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have gone 1-2 over their last three regular season games. In these matchups, they ended with an ATS record of 0-2-1 and an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Wake Forest has a record of 5-5. Across these games, their ATS record was just 3-6-1, while posting an over-under record of 5-4-1.

The Lean

Ole Miss is favored by -23.5 points in their week three matchup against Wake Forest, and we expect them to win comfortably, with a projected final score of 45-17 in favor of the Rebels.

For a point spread bet, we recommend taking Ole Miss to cover. As for the over/under line, which is set at 63.5 points, our projection of 62 points suggests that taking the under is the best play.

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No. 5 Ole Miss Faces Power Conference Test Against Wake Forest

No. 5 Ole Miss (2-0) is set for its first real challenge of the season as they travel to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to take on Wake Forest (1-1) on Saturday night. This road game marks the Rebels’ only nonconference clash against a Power Five opponent, and head coach Lane Kiffin views it as a critical measuring stick for his team’s development.

Ole Miss Ready for a Step Up in Competition

Early Season Dominance

The Rebels have cruised through their first two games, overpowering Middle Tennessee (52-3) and Furman (76-0). However, head coach Lane Kiffin acknowledges that this matchup against Wake Forest will be a significant step up in competition.

“I think it’s a really good measuring stick for where we’re at,” Kiffin said, highlighting the importance of playing against a Power Five opponent on the road.

Although Ole Miss has looked unstoppable, Kiffin knows the challenges will be tougher in a hostile road environment. “We’re going to have our hands full,” Kiffin added. “A veteran team that has played a lot of road games… The challenges will get harder, the opponents will get harder.”

Jaxson Dart’s Record-Setting Start

Ole Miss has been firing on all cylinders offensively, scoring on 20 of their 27 possessions and racking up 17 touchdowns so far. Quarterback Jaxson Dart has been a standout performer, completing his first 24 passes against Middle Tennessee, setting an SEC record and nearly breaking an NCAA mark.

Despite their success, Kiffin downplayed the significance of rankings, stating, “Rankings mean nothing,” and his players are adopting the same focused mentality.

Running back Henry Parrish Jr. echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of hard work:
“Keeping our heads down and working… Grinding every day, putting work in day in and day out with my guys.”

Wake Forest Embraces the Underdog Role

Coming Off a Heartbreaker

Wake Forest enters the game after a tough 31-30 loss to Virginia in their ACC opener, where they led for most of the game before letting it slip away. Despite the setback, head coach Dave Clawson remains confident in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion.

“We’re embracing the challenge,” Clawson said. “We know it’s going to be hard.”

Wake Forest has performed well as an underdog, boasting a 4-0 all-time record against SEC teams, including wins over Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and Missouri.

Defensive Challenges Ahead

Slowing down Ole Miss’ high-octane offense will be a tall order for Wake Forest’s defense. Clawson acknowledged the efficiency of the Rebels’ offensive attack, noting their ability to avoid turnovers while playing fast:

“As fast as they play and as wide open as they play, (they rarely have turnovers). They’re that efficient.”

If Wake Forest hopes to pull off the upset, their defense will need to contain both Dart and the Rebels’ rushing attack, which has held opponents to under 50 rushing yards in both of their previous games.

Wake Forest’s Offensive Outlook

Hank Bachmeier Takes the Helm

On offense, Wake Forest will look to quarterback Hank Bachmeier, who became the starter last week after coming off the bench in the season opener. Bachmeier, a transfer from Louisiana Tech and Boise State, has been effective, throwing four touchdowns without an interception this season.

Head coach Clawson will likely lean on Bachmeier to exploit any weaknesses in the Ole Miss secondary, which Kiffin admitted has shown some lapses in pass coverage. “This will be the best passing team, by far, that we’ve played,” Kiffin said.

If Wake Forest can get their passing game going and capitalize on Ole Miss’ defensive lapses, they could give the Rebels a run for their money.

Head-to-Head History

This will be the third meeting between Ole Miss and Wake Forest, with the Demon Deacons holding a 2-0 edge in the all-time series. Wake Forest claimed victories in both previous matchups, winning in 2006 and again in 2008. While history is on Wake Forest’s side, Ole Miss is determined to reverse that trend and stay undefeated this season.