Wake Forest vs North Carolina 11/12/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons and North Carolina Tar Heels clash Saturday in a week 11 ACC college football matchup from Truist Field.

The North Carolina Tar Heels will look to build on their five-game win streak after a 31-28 win over Virginia in their last outing to improve to 7-1 on the year. Drake Maye has thrown for 2,964 yards, 31 touchdowns and 3 interceptions on 71.2% passing while also leading the Tar Heels in rushing with 513 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns while Omarion Hampton has 358 rushing yards and 6 scores. Josh Downs leads UNC’s receiving group with 63 catches for 693 yards and 8 touchdowns while Antoine Green has 597 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. J.J. Jones also has 337 receiving yards this season. On defense, Cedric Gray leads the Tar Heels with 98 total tackles including a team-high 56 solo tackles and a pair of interceptions while Noah Taylor has a team-high 3.5 sacks.

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons will be out to bounce back from back-to-back losses after a 30-21 loss to NC State last time out, falling to 6-3 on the year. Sam Hartman has thrown for 2,423 yards, 24 touchdowns and 9 interceptions on 62.7% passing while Justice Ellison has a team-high 453 rushing yards with 4 TDs and Christian Turner has 382 rushing yards and a team-high 6 rushing touchdowns this season. A.T. Perry leads Wake’s receiving group with 47 grabs for 711 yards and 6 touchdowns while Jahmal Banks has a team-high 8 touchdowns with 477 receiving yards and Donavon Greene also has 475 receiving yards this season. Ke’Shawn Williams has 407 receiving yards and Taylor Morin has 287 receiving yards as well for the Deacs. On defense, Ryan Smenda Jr. has a team-high 75 total tackles while Rondell Bothroyd has a team-high 5 sacks and Wake’s defense as a unit has 21 sacks and 5 interceptions this season.

North Carolina is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following an ATS loss and 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in November while the over is 5-2 in their last 7 road games against a team with a winning home record. Wake Forest is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall while the over is 6-2 in their last 8 games in November.

I get the case to be made for either side here, but I’m looking at the over. Wake Forest’s offense has struggled in back-to-back weeks, but they’ve been far more effective at home this season and get to feast on this porous UNC defense. On the other side, I don’t think Wake Forest will shut down UNC’s offense that’s been flinging it all around the field this season. It’s a high total, but I think this is a game that finishes well into the 80s. Give me the over.