Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Florida State Seminoles: Betting Odds, Analysis

The defending national champion Florida State Seminoles bring a 20-game winning streak into this ACC matchup with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Saturday. However, the Seminoles have been less than impressive since earning their way into last year’s BCS Championship Game with an 0-5 mark against the spread (ATS) in their last five games.

Point spread: The Seminoles opened as 38-point favorites at Doak Campbell Stadium, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report).

Odds Shark computer prediction: 51.1-16.5 Seminoles

Why the Wake Forest Demon Deacons can cover the spread

The Demon Deacons have not done much right over the last couple of seasons, dropping eight of their last 10 games. However, they have covered the spread in three straight games this season, following a 20-10 loss at Louisville last week as 21-point underdogs.

While Wake Forest has been outscored 111-3 in losing the past two meetings with Florida State, it was just three years ago that the team pulled off a 35-30 upset of the Seminoles as 10-point dogs. The Demon Deacons have not lost by more than 12 points since last year’s 59-3 loss to Florida State as 34-point home underdogs.

Why the Florida State Seminoles can cover the spread

The Seminoles have trailed by at least one touchdown in the first half of each of the last two games, and sooner or later, they will remember that fast starts were the key to their national championship run a year ago.

The return of reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston helped them in a 56-41 victory at North Carolina State last week after it hurt them early on. Winston threw two interceptions in the win but also tossed four touchdown passes and totaled 365 yards through the air as Florida State rallied from a 24-7 first-quarter deficit.

In their last three wins against Wake Forest, the Seminoles have allowed only three points.

Smart Pick

Florida State does not look like a very motivated team right now, but facing the Demon Deacons might be exactly what the team needs to get back on track and end its ATS skid. The Seminoles are 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings with Wake Forest and 5-2 against the line in their past seven home games against ACC opponents.

This is one of those games in which Florida State should just explode and make all the critics forget about the team’s struggles with and without Winston over the last few weeks. Watch for the Seminoles to do just that and bust out of their slump with their biggest win of the year.

Trends

• Wake Forest is 1-4 ATS in its last five games when playing Florida State.
• The total has gone over in 12 of Florida State's last 18 games.

Note: All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark, and all quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury updates and line-move updates and get the free odds tracker app.