No. 11 Miami Hurricanes Host Wake Forest Demon Deacons in ACC Showdown

The No. 11 Miami Hurricanes are set to host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. This ACC matchup features two teams with differing aspirations for the remainder of the season. Miami, with a 9-1 record and a 5-1 mark in the ACC, is eyeing an ACC title and a College Football Playoff berth. In contrast, Wake Forest, with a 4-6 record and a 2-4 ACC record, needs to win its remaining games to secure a bowl eligibility.

Miami is heavily favored in this matchup, with oddsmakers setting the spread at 23.5 points in favor of the Hurricanes. The over/under for the game is set at 67.5 points. Miami’s strong offense, led by quarterback Cameron Ward, who has thrown for 3,494 yards with 32 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, is expected to pose significant challenges for Wake Forest’s defense. The Hurricanes also boast a potent running game with Damien Martinez, who has 676 yards and 8 touchdowns on the season.

Wake Forest, however, is not without its strengths. The Demon Deacons are led by quarterback Hank Bachmeier, who has thrown for 2,300 yards with 14 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Running back Demond Claiborne has been a key contributor with 919 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Despite their recent losses, Wake Forest has shown resilience, particularly on the road where they have a 3-1 record this season.

The defensive matchup is expected to be lopsided, with Miami’s defense ranking significantly better than Wake Forest’s. Miami’s defense allows 23.1 points per game, while Wake Forest’s defense has struggled, giving up 32.5 points per game. The Demon Deacons’ defense ranks outside the top 100 in nearly every defensive category, which could be exploited by Miami’s high-powered offense.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN, with kickoff scheduled for 12 p.m. ET. Miami aims to finish its regular season perfect at home, while Wake Forest seeks to keep its bowl hopes alive.