College Football Predictions – Wake Forest Demon Deacons 2020 College Football Preview
August 15, 2020
2019 Recap
Record – 8-5
ATS – 5-7-1
Dave Clawson is doing close to the impossible, and it’s fun to watch. The Demon Deacons have rattled off four consecutive winning seasons and four straight bowl appearances whilst playing a pretty exciting brand of football over the last three years (30+ PPG on each occasion). Last year the DEACS booked seven wins in their first eight games but sputtered a bit down the stretch. Let’s see what’s in store for these guys in 2020!
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
ACC – #11
<Note: In 2020, the top two teams in the ACC advance to the conference title game regardless of division. That includes Notre Dame.>
Wake Forest Demon Deacons 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
The DEACS were a very dangerous group on offense last year and finished #15 in the FBS in total offense (#6 ACC rushing, #2 passing) but will move forward without a lot of the key components that made them so effective. EXHIBIT A. QB Jamie Newman was one of the more underrated signal callers in the country LY (2,868, 26-11 TD to INT, 6 rushing TD) but he’s taken his talents to the Georgia Bulldogs. The good news is that they can rely on a former starter at QB in Sam Hartman who has proven himself more than capable. The bad news is that Wake can no longer rely on mobility at QB as a legit threat to the defense. Hartman will have a lot of new targets at WR but star WR Sage Surratt is back to terrorize defenses (66, 1,001, 15.2, 11 TD; 9 games LY). RB Cade Carney finally ran out of eligibility but they look set at RB with the return of #2 and #3 RBs Kenneth Walker III and Christian Beal-Smith. The offensive line could be problematic, at least early on, as the group only returns a pair of starters. Maryland transfer guard Terrance Davis could pay dividends as he joins the DEACS via the grad transfer route. Davis was a four-year starter with the Terrapins and preserved his redshirt last season by only playing in four games.
Wake should be able to hit the 30 PPG mark once again. They play at a really fast tempo and have a QB who is more than capable of putting up fine numbers. We worry about them taking a step back in the 3rd down conversion department (#1 ACC LY, 47%) with the departure of Newman who kept a lot of drives alive with his arm and legs.
<update – star WR S Surratt has opted out of the 2020 season>
DEFENSE
The defense was sub-par last year in most statistical measures (#9 ACC total defense, #9 run D, #11 pass efficiency D, #T9 sacks) but they forced 25 turnovers (only Clemson had more in the ACC). Nine starters return to the stop unit including the full complement in the defensive line and linebacker units. DE Carlos Basham Jr is one of the best defensive players in the ACC and he was 2nd in the ACC in sacks (11) and TFL (18) a season ago. Their top-two tacklers are back at linebacker (Ryan Smenda Jr, Ja’Cquez) but they will certainly miss their pair of excellent starting CBs including Amari Henderson who led the squad with 4 INTs in 2019.
The front six (4-2-5 formation) looks pretty good in our estimation but it’s unclear how well the secondary will hold up. It’s also hard to imagine them forcing 25 turnovers again. We predict a similar level of performance to the 2019 defense but there’s definitely upside if they can get more pressure on opposing QBs.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Nick Sciba was an absolute BEAST last year as he connected on an INCONCEIVABLE 24/25 FG attempts and set the NCAA record with 34 consecutive made field goals. Sciba also nailed 47/47 PATs. They need to find a new punter and figure out how to improve their disgusting punt and kick coverage.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – We’re still awaiting the non-conference opponent as we approach post time given the decision by ODU to bail on the season. Two of their first three games are nasty (Clemson, Irish) and four of their last five games are on the road. Don’t love the overall setup.
<update – Non-conference opponent is the Campbell Camels>
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Miami (November 28th)
Final home game after three straight road tests, and the last two were rivalry games vs opponents from their GREAT STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA (UNC, Duke). Not an ideal spot to back the likely home dog.
Season Win Total
Over 5.5 -200
Under 5.5 +170
MEGALOCKS says:
That looks about right. They usually overachieve but it’s hard to find six wins. If you can shop around and find an ‘under 6’ we’d put some small taters on that, yo.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Bring on Clemson! Uh. Maybe not. The Tigers have outscored Wake Forest 115-6 in their last two meetings.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
This has the look of another decent Wake Forest team but losing their star WR is a killer. They play smart and we KNOW that Clawson can COACH EM UP. The departure of Newman at QB is a bummer BUT Hartman is a fine “consolation prize”. And the defense could be a SURPRISE PACKAGE. It’s a tough schedule but we’ll call for five or six wins including a decent-sized upset along the way.
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NEWS
https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/154/wake-forest-demon-deacons
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