| MATCHUP | Louisville Cardinals | Wake Forest Demon Deacons |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 16-6 | 11-11 |
| Spread | -7.5 -115 | +7.5 -105 |
| Moneyline | -360 | +285 |
| Total | Over 160.5 (-112) | Under 160.5 (-108) |
| Where | LJVM Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC | |
| When | Saturday, February 7, 2026 | |
| Time | 12:00 PM EST | |
| TV | ACC Network | |
The Louisville Cardinals and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons meet Saturday in college basketball action from LJVM Coliseum in Winston-Salem. Here’s a Louisville vs Wake Forest prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Louisville vs Wake Forest pick. We will examine the recent form and player performances for both teams, as well as the recent betting trends and streaks pertaining to this matchup. As we conclude, we will tie it all together with a summary that produces a sensible pick for a favorable betting outcome in this game.
Louisville Cardinals Betting Preview
The Cardinals got off to a pretty nice 11-2 run this year. The only losses in that time came versus Arkansas and Tennessee. Louisville would lose three of the next four games (with a lone win over Boston College), however. After that came three wins over Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and SMU in the next four. Over the first 21 games of the year that would give the Cardinals a 15-6 record in the books.
On Wednesday versus Notre Dame, the Cardinals managed to carve out a six-point lead 38-32 by the end of the first half. Louisville kept it up from there on a 38-33 run and took the victory at home in the end 76-65. Isaac McKneely topped the team in scoring with 13 points while Khani Rooths doubled up on 12 points with 12 rebounds and one assist in 25 minutes of work.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Preview
Over on the Demon Deacons’ side, they lost just three of their first 12 outings with losses to Michigan, Texas Tech and Oklahoma. It’s been a rough run since then with losses to Vanderbilt, NC State, Miami, North Carolina, SMU, Duke, Pittsburgh and NC State (with wins over Virginia Tech and Florida State) in the last 10 outings. That gives the Deacons a .500 record at 11-11 through 22 outings.
Last weekend in the NC State game the Deacons were sitting in the locker room with a troubling 49-31 deficit on their hands at home. Wake Forest kept the pace from there on a 47-47 stretch in an eventual loss 96-78. Juke Harris led the team in the losing effort with his 31 points and seven rebounds. Omaha Biliew added 12 points with four rebounds in 25 minutes of work as well.
Louisville Cardinals @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Trends: February 7, 2026
Why the Wake Forest Demon Deacons will win
- Wake Forest has won each of its last five games when playing with a rest advantage.
- Louisville has lost three of its last four road games following a home win.
- Louisville has lost the first half in three of its last four day games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
Why the Louisville Cardinals will win
- Wake Forest has lost 17 of its last 18 games against AP-ranked opponents.
- Louisville has won each of its last 10 Saturday day games.
- Louisville has won the first half in each of its last six February games as an AP-ranked team against a non-AP-ranked team.
Louisville vs Wake Forest Prediction
I’ll lean toward Louisville I suppose. The Cardinals took care of a middling Notre Dame team in a home matchup this week, despite hitting a pretty rough 22.6 percent (7-of-31) from outside with 12 turnovers. Louisville owned the paint 40-22 and had a 44-33 edge on the boards, though. The Cards are a nice 4-1 in their last five games, scoring 76 or more points in all four victories during that stretch.
As for Wake Forest, they shot fairly well in their loss to NC State last weekend, hitting 47.2 percent from the field with 87.5 percent (21-of-24) from the line. The 26 rebounds, 30-28 edge in the paint and eight turnovers were nice totals as well. Trouble is, Wake Forest gave up 54.1 percent shooting from the floor and 57.1 percent from 3-point range to the Wolfpack. That makes four straight losses with 90 or more points surrendered in three of them.