Wake Forest bullied Virginia for 309 rushing yards, then had to watch quarterback Gio Lopez limp off with a lower-leg injury late in the third quarter. Coach Jake Dickert has called Lopez day-to-day ahead of Merrimack’s visit for homecoming. The Deacons have been playing some ferocious football lately, outscoring their last four opponents 187–31, and the backs who finished off Virginia may have another substantial afternoon ahead. Below is my preview, prediction, and pick for today’s college football game between the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Merrimack Warriors.
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Wake Forest vs. Merrimack prediction, preview
Wake back Ty Clark III rushed for three touchdowns against the Cavaliers. Fellow back Jamar Searcy reached the end zone, too, and backup quarterback Steele Pizzella has run for 52 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries this season. Pizzella has attempted only nine passes, so a longer outing would change how confidently Wake could attack downfield. Dickert can still put the ball in Clark’s hands and ask Merrimack to withstand the blocking that flattened Virginia.
Merrimack back Matthias Latham has 626 yards on 122 carries, but the Warriors’ one FBS opponent gave him and the line a much harsher afternoon. Merrimack rushed for 48 yards on 25 attempts at Delaware and lost 42–7. Wake has allowed a stingy 2.7 yards per carry and held Virginia to 16 yards on 19 attempts. Latham may have to endure several fruitless carries before quarterback AJ Hairston Jr. gets a manageable passing down.
Hairston has helped Merrimack finish when the opposition gives him room. He capped a seven-minute, 75-yard winning drive against Wagner with his second rushing touchdown. Against Tarleton, the Warriors amassed 252 first-half yards and trailed by three at the break, then surrendered three third-quarter touchdowns. They have also thrown eight interceptions and lost 11 fumbles in nine games. Against this Wake front, Hairston could spend too much of the afternoon trying to salvage drives that began with a loss.
Merrimack vs. Wake Forest pick, best bet
The Deacons have been ruthless about turning the next possession into seven. They have scored touchdowns on 46.3% of competitive FBS drives and averaged at least 4.75 points per drive in each of their last four games. Lopez deserves much of the credit for that efficiency. Wake also continued scoring against Virginia after he left, with reserve backs finding the end zone. Merrimack’s defenders can wind up facing fresh runners long after they’ve already spent an exhausting afternoon trying to get Clark down.
I’m laying 47.5 with a narrow margin and Lopez’s workload unresolved. Merrimack can make this uncomfortable with one completed drive, particularly if Wake loses its downfield passing. The Deacons have the rushing depth to score well into the 50s anyway. I expect them to spend much of the game getting the ball back from an offense that struggled to establish a ground game against Delaware.
Best bet: Wake Forest -47.5 (-110).
Projected score: Wake Forest 55, Merrimack 7.
Best Bet: Wake Forest -47.5 (-110) vs. Merrimack
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