Wake Forest Demon Deacons 2023 Future Odds

Can Wake Forest replace Sam Hartman? Its season depends on it.

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons lost a bulk of talent from one of the most productive classes in school history, including record-setting quarterback Sam Hartman. Head coach Dave Clawson has elevated the program, but sustaining success will be difficult if he can’t find a suitable replacement under center.

Read on as we break down the Demon Deacons future odds in our team preview.

Demon Deacons logo Wake Forest Demon Deacons At A Glance

Odds to WinOpening OddsCurrent Odds
National Championship+30000+40000
Conference+5000+5000
Regular Season Win Total6.0 (o-120, u+100)6.5 (o-105, u-125)
To Make Playoffs (if applicable)N/AN/A

Hartman’s Departure Leaves QB Room in Flux

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons went 8-5 last season and beat Missouri 27-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl, the program’s second straight bowl victory and third since 2018. They were ranked as high as No. 10 in the Associated Press poll but finished the year outside the Top 25.

Can they build on that success? New challenges await. Sam Hartman, the most proficient quarterback in school history, transferred to Notre Dame this past offseason. The Demon Deacons don’t have a clear answer behind them. Sophomore Mitch Griffis is the presumed starter according to NCAAF predictions, but he has just 56 career passing attempts under his belt.

Hartman threw an ACC career-record 110 touchdown passes over five seasons at Wake Forest. He is also second in ACC history with 12,967 career passing yards, trailing only Philip Rivers. The Demon Deacons went 27-18 under his watch, including an 11-3 record in 2021 that tied the school record for single-season wins.

Ultimately, the Demon Deacons’ season will depend on whether they can suitably replace him. If not, it’ll be a long year in Winston-Salem.

National Championship Odds: Without Hartman, No Chance

Without a proven answer to replace Hartman, it’s tough to see Wake Forest competing for an ACC title, let alone a national championship. The Demon Deacons aren’t at that level in the college football rankings. It explains why their odds have dropped from +30000 to +40000.

Currently, a bowl game seems like the ceiling for Wake Forest. There’s just too much that needs to go right for this to become possible.

Conference Odds: Longshot at Best

Clemson has won seven of the last eight ACC titles, except Pittsburgh in 2021. The Tigers also won in 2011, before Florida State’s three-peat. True to form, Clemson (+150) and Florida State (+160) are again favored this season, followed by North Carolina at +900.

The Demon Deacons’ future odds are +5000. Currently, only five schools have longer odds. Need we say more? The Demon Deacons must overcome an awful lot to climb the board and contend with the big boys in the ACC.

Regular Season Wins: It Depends on the QB Play

Wake Forest’s projected win total has climbed from 6.0 to 6.5, with the Over boosted to -105. The Demon Deacons have topped this total in the last three seasons, not counting the COVID-abbreviated 2020 campaign. Whether they can do so again will depend on their quarterback play. Fortunately, their NCAAF schedule should provide a soft jumping-off point.

The Demon Deacons open Aug. 31 against FCS program Elon. Games against Vanderbilt and Old Dominion follow that. Their first three FBS opponents had losing records in 2022. It isn’t until Oct. 7 at Clemson that Wake Forest gets a legitimate test. The Demon Deacons also host Florida State (Oct. 28) and visit Notre Dame (Nov. 18).

Is there a path to seven wins? Possibly, but only if they can find their heir apparent to Hartman.

To Make Playoffs: Until Further Notice…

Wake Forest in the College Football Playoff? It’s never been. Right now, it’s not under consideration. The Demon Deacons must start strong and pull off an upset or two to generate that type of respect. For now, there aren’t any Demon Deacons future odds available in this market.

For college football betting news, odds, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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