In theory, Wake Forest doesn\u2019t have a tough act to follow in 2011. Last year, the Demon Deacons finished 3-8, good for last in the ACC Atlantic and tied with Duke for the conference\u2019s worst overall record. <\/p>\n
Date: <\/strong>Thursday, September 1, 2011 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0-0)<\/strong><\/p>\n They ranked 108th<\/sup> in the nation in total offense and 103rd<\/sup> in total defense. <\/p>\n Woof.<\/p>\n In theory, there\u2019s nowhere to go but up for Jim Grobe\u2019s squad. He\u2019d better hope so after guiding the team to an 8-16 record the last two years. The good news for Wake Forest is that it should be one of the ACC\u2019s more experienced teams this season; it returns 16 starters in total. <\/p>\n The bad news is that an already-porous defense loses two of its most important pieces; defensive end Kevin smith has been dismissed for an off-field incident and cornerback Kevin Johnson is serving a year-long academic suspension.<\/p>\n Syracuse Orange (0-0)<\/strong><\/p>\n Syracuse hopes to build on a 2010 season in which it quietly contended to win the Big East, tying for the conference\u2019s second-best record. Doug Marrone has led the Orange to a remarkable turnaround in two seasons. Last year, he got them to their first bowl game since 2004, which yielded a thrilling win over Kansas State in the first-ever Pinstripe Bowl.<\/p>\n Five starters return to a defense that improved by leaps and bounds last season. Syracuse quietly had the country\u2019s sixth-ranked \u201cD\u201d in 2010, also ranking seventh against the pass and allowing just 19.3 points per contest (17th<\/sup>). Syracuse\u2019 offense gets eight starters back but loses its bellcow runner in Delone Carter, who is currently pushing Donald Brown and Joseph Addai for carries as an Indianapolis Colt.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be surprised if Syracuse goes a bit heavier on the pass in its playcalling this season. Week 1 against the soft Wake Forest \u201cD\u201d seems like the ideal time to test out Ryan Nassib, who showed some potential with 19 touchdown passes versus eight interceptions last season. [soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n The pick:<\/strong><\/p>\n Syracuse isn\u2019t a superpower by any means but the Orange are 7-2 ATS over their last nine against non-conference foes. They\u2019ll field a far superior defense against Wake Forest\u2019s Tanner Price, who is still young but didn\u2019t look great as a freshman quarterback. \u00a0<\/p>\n Nassib also shouldn\u2019t have much trouble picking apart Wake Forest\u2019s weak defense on his own school\u2019s turf.<\/p>\n Wake Forest is 1-5 ATS over its last six as a road underdog. It looks like Week 1 may mark the start of another long season for Jim Grobe. I don\u2019t expect this game to be too high-scoring, mainly because Wake Forest won\u2019t score much. <\/p>\n The Deacs\u2019 last five games against Big East opponents have gone UNDER the total.<\/p>\n Wake Forest vs Syracuse prediction: <\/strong>Syracuse 27, Wake Forest 10<\/p>\n Money Line: OFF Welcome to the CappersPicks.com Week 13 college football weekly predictions pages! We KNOW you will find our FREE weekly\u00a0college football predictions<\/strong><\/a>, tips, betting advice, strategies, CFB gambling articles and more to help you become the best College football bettor on your block!! <\/p>\n
\nVenue: <\/strong>Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
\nBroadcast: <\/strong>ESPN3
\nWake Forest Demon Deacons at Syracuse Orange Betting Lines from Sportsbook.com<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: <\/strong>OFF
\nSpread: <\/strong>Syracuse -5
\nOver\/Under: <\/strong>49.5
\nGO INSIDE THIS MATCHUP WITH OUR ATS STATS —><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
\nSpread: Syracuse -5
\nOver\/Under: UNDER 49.5<\/p>\n