Game: NC State Wolfpack at Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Date: 9/11/2025 at 7:30 PM ET

Where to Watch: ESPN

This Thursday night features a matchup between two familiar ACC foes, NC State and Wake Forest. It will be NC State’s first road game of the season and Wake Forest’s first conference test, with both teams still unbeaten. NC State survived a tight home contest against UVA last week, while the Deacs cruised past an overmatched Western Carolina squad. The Wolfpack defense started slow but tightened up in the second half, holding UVA to just 7 points. Offensively, things clicked as CJ Bailey threw for 200 yards, while the Pack added 216 on the ground and totaled 35 points. Wake looked sharper on both sides of the ball last week than in its opener, though with the lack of quality competition, this game should reveal much more about what the Deacs are truly made of.

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Weather

The weather is shaping up nicely, with temperatures expected to be in the 70s at kickoff before dipping into the 60s as the game moves along. Rain won’t be a concern, and wind shouldn’t play much of a role either, averaging around 5 mph with gusts up to 14 mph.

Betting Overview

This game opened with NC State as a 7.5-point favorite, but the line has nudged slightly toward Wake Forest, now sitting at an even 7 across most sportsbooks. Interestingly, the moneyline has shifted the other way in favor of NC State, moving from -238 to the -280/-290 range, while Wake went from +195 to between +225 and +230. The total has also seen movement, dropping from 55.5 down to 53.5–54.5 depending on the book, and it continues to trend lower.

Last 10 ATS & Over/Under Results + other Betting Trends

From a betting perspective, the value in this matchup comes from a long track record between these teams. The spread has been covered evenly over the last 10 meetings, with each side cashing 5 times, though Wake Forest has won 7 of those outright. As for totals, the under has hit in 7 of the past 10 contests.

Last season NC State performed well on the road, going 3-1 ATS, though none of those games came as the favorite. The over also hit in every one of their away games, finishing a perfect 4-0. Wake Forest, meanwhile, struggled badly against the number at home, posting an 0-6-1 ATS record, with 5 of those as an underdog. Totals leaned the other way, as the over cashed in 5 of 7 home games, including 3 of 5 when the Deacs were a home dog.

Final Thoughts

Both teams have reason to be satisfied at 2-0, but only one will remain unbeaten after Thursday. I believe NC State’s edge in the trenches will ultimately be the difference, as the Pack have already been tested against two quality opponents, while the Deacs haven’t faced a team of real significance. That disparity could make for a long night in Winston-Salem.