Virginia vs Wake Forest Prediction 10/31/2026 Today’s College Football Picks

Virginia vs Wake Forest Prediction

In this Virginia vs Wake Forest prediction for this College Football Week 9 matchup on Saturday, October 31st, Wake Forest is coming as -13.5 home favorites. Wake Forest has been the better team this season, having lost only once so far and are a perfect 5-0 against the spread in their last 5 games. They are a top-30 team both offensively and defensively, with a +18 point differential and will be facing a struggling Virginia squad that is 1-3 in its last 4 games and 0-4 against the spread. The price is reasonable, so lay the -13.5 with Wake Forest at home.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons Preview

Wake Forest has a 6-1 record and a 4-1 record in the ACC. They are coming off a 41-7 road win against California and will face Merrimack and SMU next.

Offensively, Wake Forest averages 37.4 points per game, ranking 15th in the nation, while defensively, they allow 19.4 points per game, which is 30th. Wake Forest averages 445.9 total yards per game (290.3 passing and 155.6 rushing), while allowing 322.6 total yards per game (92.4 rushing and 230.1 passing).

Gio Lopez leads Wake Forest with 1,947 passing yards with 67.6% completed passes and 17 touchdowns. Ty Clark leads the team in rushing yards with 328, while Carlos Hernandez has a team-high 720 receiving yards and 49 receptions. Defensively, Vincent Firenze has a team-high 51 total tackles (20 of them solo), while Langston Hardy leads the team with 5.5 sacks.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons Injury Report

Carlos Hernandez (WR) — Probable | Est. Return: Oct 31 vs. Virginia

Virginia Cavaliers Preview

Virginia has a 4-4 record and a 2-3 record in the ACC. They are coming off a 16-19 home loss against Duke and will face California and North Carolina next.

Offensively, Virginia averages 28.2 points per game, ranking 74th in the nation, while defensively, they allow 19.6 points per game, which is 32nd. Virginia averages 360.9 total yards per game (199.3 passing and 161.6 rushing), while allowing 326.6 total yards per game (141.9 rushing and 184.8 passing).

Beau Pribula leads Virginia with 1,369 passing yards with 65.0% completed passes and 13 touchdowns. Jekail Middlebrook leads the team in rushing yards with 513, while DaShawn Martin has a team-high 247 receiving yards and 17 receptions. Defensively, Jacobie Henderson has a team-high 41 total tackles (21 of them solo), while Matthew Fobbs-White leads the team with 4 sacks.

Virginia Cavaliers Injury Report

Jekail Middlebrook (RB) — Doubtful | Est. Return: Nov 7 vs. TBA
Corey Costner (DB) — Questionable | Est. Return: Oct 31 vs. Wake Forest
Brandyn Hillman (DB) — Questionable | Est. Return: Oct 31 vs. Wake Forest
Ethan Minter (DB) — Questionable | Est. Return: Oct 31 vs. Wake Forest
Dylan Cope (WR) — Questionable | Est. Return: Oct 31 vs. Wake Forest

Virginia Cavaliers @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Trends: Week 9

Why the Wake Forest Demon Deacons will win

• Wake Forest has won each of its last 10 October games against non-AP-ranked teams.
• Virginia has lost 20 of its last 23 games against top-15 AP-ranked teams.
• Virginia has failed to cover the spread in each of its last six games in October.
• Wake Forest has covered the spread in each of its last six games in October.
• Wake Forest has won the first quarter in each of its last eight home games against teams from Virginia.
• Wake Forest has won the first half in each of its last nine games as an AP-ranked team against a non-AP-ranked team.

Why the Virginia Cavaliers will win

• Virginia has won four of its last five games as an underdog.
• Wake Forest has lost nine of its last 12 home games against conference opponents.
• Virginia has covered the spread in seven of its last eight October games as an underdog.
• Wake Forest has failed to cover the spread in four of its last five home games against teams from Virginia.
• Virginia has won the first quarter in each of its last four games as an underdog against teams from North Carolina.
• The underdog has won the first half in each of the last three games between Virginia and Wake Forest.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Virginia’s last six games against teams from North Carolina have gone UNDER the total points line.
• Each of Wake Forest’s last four games as a home favorite have gone OVER the total points line.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons Player Prop Facts

• Heading into Week 9, Gio Lopez ranks 3rd in the league for TD:INT ratio (17.00) this season.

Virginia Cavaliers Player Prop Facts

• Heading into Week 9, Daniel Sparks ranks 1st amongst qualified players for gross average yards per punt (51.1) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• Wake Forest is one of only two FBS teams undefeated in road games this season (4-0).
• Wake Forest ranks 4th among FBS teams for 4th down conversion percentage against this season (23.1).
• Virginia ranks 5th among FBS teams for sacks this season (27.0).
• Virginia ranks T16th among FBS teams for interceptions this season (8).

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Wake Forest -13.5