Wake Forest vs VMI Prediction and Betting Odds | College Football Week 1 | September 1

Wake Forest vs VMI Betting Preview

In the second game of our Countdown to Kickoff series, Sportsmemo handicapper JM Sports takes a look at Wake Forest’s Week 1 clash against FCS-level VMI. The Demon Deacons will once again be aiming for an ACC Championship game appearance after falling last season to Pitt 45-21.

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Thursday, September 1	College Football Betting Notes
Point Spread:	Wake Forest Demon Deacons (n/a) vs VMI Keydets
Total:	n/a
Kickoff:	7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT
Venue:	Truist Field in Winston-Salem, NC
TV:	ACC Network

Wake Forest vs VMI Analysis

It just goes to show that anything can happen, at any moment, that can turn life, or a college football season upside down.

It was just reported that one of the most important returning starters to this Wake Forest team, QB Sam Hartman, is expected to miss an “extended period of time” and sidelined indefinitely after a non-football-related medical issue was discovered.

As of now, the issue has been withheld due to privacy restrictions for Hartman, but it doesn’t look like we will see the 2nd team All-ACC QB in a Wake Forest uniform any time soon.

With that being said, there is still a lot of potential for this 19th ranked Wake Forest team that ended last year 11-3 and won the ACC Atlantic. They received their highest AP ranking ever and started 8-0 for the 1st time in the history of their program.

Deacons Offensive Line Remains Intact

When you look on the offensive side of the ball, it can’t be stressed enough how much of a loss their 2nd all-time leading passer before his junior season can impact a season.

Their OL returns 3 players that were at least honorable mention for all-ACC last season, in C Jurgens (HM), RG Ngassam Nya (HM) and LG Maginn (2nd TM).

Their RT is held down by Nash who was a 9 game starter in 2020, before missing last year due to injury and a 14 game starter at LT in Gordon.

Returning Running Backs and Defensive Players For Wake Forest

They lost their leading rusher in Beal-Smith but the workload was split pretty evenly so they return some solid talent in Justice Ellison (541 yards, 7 TD’s, 5.1 YPC last year) and Christian Turner (506 yards, 5 TD’s, 4.0 YPC last season). When it comes to receivers, this unit could considered among the elite, the Demon Deacons have 5 of their 7 top options returning again this season.

Brad Lambert is back to take the ropes on the defense and they are looking strong with 6 returning starters and 2 quality transfers joining the units.

DT Turner joins after spending 4 seasons at Richmond and S Harris spent 4 years in the SEC at Vanderbilt. Both players tallied 128 tackles in their tenure prior to their arrival and Turner racked up 27 starts.

Wake Forest vs VMI Prediction

Those transfers could be essential to their success for the entirety of the season as they have seemingly run out of gas at the end of the year recently.

This is one of the deepest teams that they have had in recent memory, they come into this game on a 9 game home winning streak and posting a 15-2 record on their home field since 2019. While this game isn’t currently lined, Wake Forest has won their last 5 vs. FCS foes, winning by 39 PPG, but going just 3-2 ATS.

VMI isn’t exactly competitive competition, as they went just 6-5 last season which included a 60-10 loss to FBS opponent Kent State. VMI failed to finish approve .500 in conference play last year and this Wake Forest team is a step up from Kent State.

Tomorrow’s Matchup : #18 Texas vs ULM

Interested in placing a bet on this Wake Forest vs VMI Week 1 showdown? Caesars Sports is offering up to a $1,500 match bet for first-time deposits in New Jersey, West Virginia, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona, New York and Louisiana.

Sportsmemo Today | NFL Season Preview

JM Sports joins Dan Neubert and Dr Chuck on Sportsmemo Today to discuss the NFL futures market, and the Week 1 betting lines.

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Meet the Author

Jeff’s hunger for handicapping began at a young age being surrounded by parents that made sports betting a daily routine. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of other Cleveland handicappers like Marc Lawrence, Phil Steele, Ralph Michaels, Ed Meyer and Bryan Leonard, Jeff started his sports betting career working for both Northcoast Sports and Phil Steele Publications learning the intricacies of sports betting and becoming a profitable handicapper. Through out his college years, Jeff’s mathematical and analytical prowess helped him develop a betting strategy that turned sports betting into a profitable venture, where he focuses on the NFL, college football, NBA, college basketball and MLB while showing strong results in the WNBA.

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