SMU (19-5) vs Wake Forest (18-7)
February 15, 2025 at 06:00 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: SMU -6.5 — Over/Under: 146.5
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the SMU Mustangs meet Saturday in college basketball action from the Moody Coliseum. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Wake Forest vs. SMU prediction.
Wake Forest Recap
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons come into this game looking to bounce back from a 72-70 loss at the hands of Florida State last time out to fall to 18-7 on the year. After this game, Wake Forest will head on the road for a game against NC State.
Demon Deacons Have Three-Game Win Streak Snapped
Hunter Sallis leads the Demon Deacons in scoring with 18.5 PPG along with 4.9 RPG and 2.7 APG while Cameron Hildreth has 14.7 PPG with 3.8 RPG and a team-high 3 APG to lead the Demon Deacons in assists. Tre’Von Spillers also has 10.1 PPG with a team-high 7.7 RPG to lead the Demon Deacons on the glass and to round out the scoring in double figures for Wake Forest up to this point in the year and Efton Reid III has 8.1 PPG with 6.1 RPG as well this season. As a team, Wake Forest is averaging 70.4 PPG on 45.3% shooting from the field, 29.2% from three, and 74.9% from the foul line this season.
Why the Wake Forest Demon Deacons will win
- Wake Forest has won each of its last eight day games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
SMU Recap
The SMU Mustangs come into this game looking to add on to their 83-63 win over Pitt last time out to improve to 19-5 on the year. After this game, SMU will head on the road for a matchup with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Mustangs Win Five In A Row
Boopie Miller leads the Mustangs in scoring and assists with 13.4 PPG and 5.8 APG while Chuck Harris has 12.7 PPG and Matt Cross has 11.9 PPG with a team-high 8.3 RPG to lead the Mustangs on the glass up to this point in the year. B.J. Edwards has 10.3 PPG with 4.2 RPG and 3.6 APG along with 2.3 SPG. Samet Yigitoglu has 10.7 PPG with 6.6 RPG as well on the year to cap off the scoring in double figures for SMU so far this season. Yohan Traore has 7 PPG with 3.9 RPG while Karlo Oquendo has 9.9 PPG with 2.9 RPG. As a team, SMU is averaging 82.8 PPG on 48% shooting from the field, 38.9% from three, and 73.6% from the foul line this season.
Why the SMU Mustangs will win
- SMU has won each of its last eight games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
- Wake Forest has lost each of its last five road games following a home loss.
Total Points Facts
- Twelve of Wake Forest’s last 14 day games have produced a total of 142 or fewer points.
- Four of SMU’s last five games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 146 or fewer points.
Wake Forest vs. SMU Prediction
I’m on SMU here. I didn’t love what I saw from Wake Forest in that game against Florida State and I think SMU has a real chance to make a move here and get into the conversation of the last four in when it comes to the next bracketology update. Wake Forest is still a team I have some reservations about and I’d make a strong case that SMU is a top-4 team in the ACC this season. I think that the Mustangs defend home court here and get the job done so give me the Mustangs in this one.