The No. 5 Miami Hurricanes head to Winston-Salem on Friday night for an ACC matchup with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Miami has rolled through its first two games, opening with a 45-6 road win over Stanford before beating Florida A&M 77-7 at home. The Hurricanes have outscored their first two opponents 122-13 while climbing to No. 5 in the AP poll.
Quarterback Darian Mensah has been at the forefront of the Canes’ fast start. The Duke transfer threw for 401 yards and five touchdowns against Stanford, then completed 14 of 15 passes for 252 yards and three scores against Florida A&M. Through two games, Mensah has completed 41 of 45 passes for 653 yards with eight touchdowns.
Heisman candidate Malachi Toney, Mensah’s leading target, has picked up where he left off as a freshman, catching 16 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns through two games, including a program-record 234 receiving yards and three scores against Stanford.
Wake Forest is also 2-0 after opening with a 38-16 win over Akron and following it with a 38-36 double-overtime victory at Purdue. The Demon Deacons return home after surviving a back-and-forth finish in West Lafayette, where quarterback Gio Lopez helped deliver the deciding plays.
Lopez has thrown for 575 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions through his first two games with Wake Forest. He has also contributed 98 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including 59 yards and two scores on the ground against Purdue. Lopez scored the tying touchdown in the second overtime before running in the game-winning two-point conversion.
Friday also brings the Hurricanes back to Winston-Salem for the first time since 2009. The Canes lead the all-time series 9-3 and have won eight consecutive meetings, but the two programs have rarely crossed paths in recent years.
Their 2024 matchup was the first meeting since 2013. Wake Forest stayed within one score at 20-14 through three quarters before Miami pulled away for a 42-14 victory in Coral Gables.
Miami vs. Wake Forest Odds
Miami is favored by nearly three touchdowns for Friday night’s ACC matchup at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:
- Point Spread: Miami -20.5 (-110) | Wake Forest +20.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Miami -1400 | Wake Forest +700
- Total: Over 55.5 (-115) | Under 55.5 (-105)
Referenced odds subject to change.
Best Bet for Miami vs. Wake Forest
Wake Forest +20.5 (-110): Miami has handled everything in front of it through two weeks, but laying more than 20 points on the road leaves plenty of room for Wake Forest to cover without threatening an outright upset.
The Demon Deacons have already shown they can produce enough offense to remain competitive. Wake Forest has scored 38 points in each of its first two games, while Lopez has taken care of the football and given the offense another dimension with his mobility.
That was especially important at Purdue. Lopez threw for 225 yards and added 59 rushing yards with two touchdowns, then made the two biggest plays of the game in the ensuing overtime periods.
Miami should still have the advantage across the field, but this number requires the Hurricanes to create significant separation. Wake Forest does not need to match Miami possession for possession to stay inside the number, especially if Lopez can extend drives and avoid the turnovers that often allow a heavy favorite to turn a comfortable win into a blowout.
- Best Bet: Wake Forest +20.5 (-110)
Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet
Hard Rock Bet players are unsurprisingly backing Miami across the board:
- Moneyline: Miami has received 98% of the moneyline tickets and 99.4% of the handle.
- Spread: Miami -20.5 has drawn 92.8% of all spread bets and 97.4% of the money.
- Total: Over 55.5 accounts for 95% of the total tickets and 97.5% of the handle.
Miami vs. Wake Forest Game Info
- 🏟️ Location: Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium – Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- 📅 Date: Friday, September 18
- ⏰ Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- 📺 Where to Watch: ESPN
More Ways to Bet
Looking for more ways to stay in the action? Florida players can find Real Money Games powered by Past Motor Racing, available exclusively on Hard Rock Bet, a lineup of fast, engaging real money games you can jump into anytime while you follow your bets.
Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in FL. Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital, LLC, in all other states. Must be 21+ and physically present in AZ, CO, FL, IL, IN, MI, NJ, OH, TN or VA to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling? In FL, call 1-833-PLAYWISE. In IN, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-9-WITH-IT. In AZ, OH, & VA, call 1-800-MY-RESET.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1‑800‑GAMBLER (CO, IL, MI, NJ, TN)
