Clemson Tigers Favored to Dominate Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Week 7 College Football Matchup

The Clemson Tigers, currently ranked No. 10, are poised to extend their winning streak to five games as they face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Saturday, October 12, 2024. The game, set to kick off at noon Eastern Time at Truist Field in Winston-Salem, NC, and broadcast on ESPN, is heavily favored towards the Tigers.

Clemson has been on a roll since their season-opening loss to Georgia, averaging 48 points per game in their last four outings. Quarterback Cade Klubnik has been instrumental in leading the offense, supported by a fully healthy receiving corps and a potent running game led by Phil Mafah. The Tigers’ defense has also been impressive, allowing just 13.5 points per game in their last two matches and benefiting from the return of defensive tackle Peter Woods.

Wake Forest, on the other hand, has struggled with consistency, scoring 27.0 points per game but allowing a concerning 35.5 points per game. Their defense has been particularly vulnerable, ranking 125th nationally by allowing 491.3 yards per game. This vulnerability is expected to be exploited by Clemson’s balanced attack, which averages 196.4 rushing yards and 269.2 passing yards per game.

Key matchups include Clemson’s ground game against Wake Forest’s rushing defense, where the Tigers’ potent rushing attack, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, is likely to exploit the Demon Deacons’ defense that allows 4.9 yards per rush. Additionally, Clemson’s passing attack is expected to target Wake Forest’s struggling secondary, which has allowed 71.9% completions and 8.5 yards per attempt.

Predictions from various analysts and models are unanimous in favoring Clemson. The All Clemson staff predicts a score range of Clemson 31-45 to Wake Forest 14-24. The SP+ prediction model forecasts a 36-21 victory for Clemson, with an 83% chance of an outright win. Other analytical models, including the College Football Power Index, also favor the Tigers, projecting an 87.5% chance of Clemson winning outright.

The betting lines reflect this sentiment, with Clemson favored by 20.5 points and a total points line of 61.5. The moneyline odds are -1400 for Clemson and +800 for Wake Forest.