Posted on 8/15/2007 5:12:41 PM

College Football Betting - Wake Forest Demon Deacons 2007 Preview - ACC Conference

By Brock Murphy

BetUS Sportsbook assigned Wake Forest college football betting odds of +575 to win the ACC’s Atlantic Division and NCAA football odds of +1400 to win the conference. Media writers picked them to finish fourth in the division.

Last year’s conference champ will not have the league handed to them this year. They’ll have to earn it and that is music to the ears of wily QB Riley Skinner, who did everything he could to squeeze over 2,000 passing yards out of last season (2,051, 9TD’s).

Injuries decimated the tailback corps last year but the good news is that plenty of guys received quality snaps. Micah Andrews (5-10, 212; Sr) is back from his ACL injury and Josh Adams (6-0, 180) is prepared to burst onto the scene in relief following last year’s redshirt.

All five projected starters on the offensive line have starting experience and OC Steve Justice (6-4, 284; Sr) and mammoth RG Chris DeGeare (6-4, 362; Jr) are all-star caliber. The veteran line and the healthy backfield should produce an even more productive running game and the passing game must surely improve, especially with play-maker Kenneth Moore (6-0, 204; Sr) moving back to receiver.

The defense uses a bend-but-don’t-break philosophy and will have to rely mostly on young and undersized players to control the line of scrimmage.

MLB Jon Abbate took off early to the NFL and 288-pound Eric Berry, who started one game last year, is his likely replacement. OLB’s Aaron Curry (6-3, 240; Jr) and Stanley Arnoux (6-1, 245; Jr) are good players but must ratchet-up their games to make up for Abbate’s graduation.

Cornerback Alphonso Smith (5-9, 191; Jr) had 8 PBU’s and 3 picks in only 3 starts last season. Kevin Patterson started the last 11 games at SS gathering 2 INT’s and 7 PBU’s.

Wake Forest road-schedule includes a season-opening trip to Boston College as well as trips to Navy, Clemson and Vandy. Hosting FSU and Nebraska this year, the Demon Deacons will have their work cut out for them to match last year’s 11-3 record.

NCAA FOOTBALL ODDS TO WIN:

COASTAL DIVISION:

Virginia Tech (Even [BetUS]; 1st – ACC Media)

Georgia Tech (+875; 2nd – ACC Media)

UVA (+700; 4th – ACC Media)

Miami (-125; 3rd – ACC Media)

UNC (+400; 5th – ACC Media)

Duke (+4500; 6th – ACC Media)

ATLANTIC DIVISION:

Florida State (-130 [BetUS]; 1st – ACC Media)

Wake Forest (+575; 4th – ACC Media)

Clemson (+215; 3rd – ACC Media)

Maryland (+700; 5th – ACC Media)

Boston College (+425; 2nd – ACC Media)

North Carolina State (+575; 6th – ACC Media)

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