Syracuse vs. Wake Forest Picks and Prediction for Saturday, February 28, 2026
Use Code WWWC On Saturday, the Syracuse Orange will visit the Wake Forest Demon Deacons for an Atlantic Coast Conference basketball game, and we have you ready to go with our Syracuse vs. Wake Forest prediction, odds, and preview. Tip-off from Winston-Salem, NC, is at 5:45 p.m. ET.
The Demon Deacons are 2.5-point spread favorites, and the game total is 149.5 points scored.
This is the first matchup between these ACC opponents this season. The Orange are 6-4 straight-up (6-3-1 ATS) in their last ten meetings with the Demon Deacons. The over was 5-4-1 in those games. If you want the Syracuse vs. Wake Forest prediction, read on to get our top NCAAB predictions and increase your bankroll!
Syracuse is eager to bounce back after consecutive losses
Syracuse (15-13 SU, 14-14 ATS, and 15-13 O/U) lost 77-64 to North Carolina in its previous game (Feb. 21), failing to cover the spread as 1.5-point betting favorites. The Orange shot 42 percent of their field goals, including 17 percent of their three-pointers. They were outrebounded 38-34 and outscored 42-32 in the paint. UNC shot 52 percent overall and led by as many as 18 points.
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The Cuse scores 75.6 points per game (229th) on 46.9 percent shooting (83rd), including 33.0 percent from beyond the arc (249th). Defensively, the Orange allow 73.4 points per game (141st) on 43.6 percent shooting (151st), including 33.6 percent from three-point range (178th). Syracuse is tied with Stanford for eighth place in the ACC hoops standings with a 6-9 conference record. They are 3-7 (5-5 ATS) in their last ten games, and the over went 6-4 in those contests.
Sophomore forward Donnie Freeman paces the Cuse in scoring. He averages 16.7 points on 48.4 percent shooting and contributes 7.0 rebounds per game. A few other Orange stars to watch against Wake Forest are senior guard J.J. Starling (12.4 PPG), senior guard Nate Kingz (11.3 PPG and 3.7 RPG), and junior guard Naithan George (10.3 PPG and 5.3 APG). Syracuse is ranked 76th nationally, including 84th in offensive efficiency rating and 78th in defensive efficiency rating, per KenPom.
Syracuse Orange Injury Report:
- No key injuries.
Demon Deacons have struggled in ACC play
Wake Forest (14-14 SU, 11-17 ATS, and 16-12 O/U) lost 68-67 on the road to Boston College on Wednesday, failing to cover as 4.5-point spread favorites. The Demon Deacons hit only 35 percent of their field goals and were limited to 18 points in the paint. BC hit 43 percent of its shots and scored 28 in the paint. The Eagles won the game on a tip-in with 0.5 seconds remaining.
Wake Forest scores 78.8 points per game (140th) on 44.8 percent shooting (210th), including 33.8 percent from beyond the arc (200th). Defensively, the Deacs surrender 76.9 points per game (233rd) on 44.6 percent shooting (208th), including 32.8 percent from three-point range (134th). Wake returned just 18.8 points per game from last year’s squad, as stars Hunter Sallis, Cameron Hildreth, and Efton Reid have departed the program. The Demon Deacons have been less competitive without those stars, compiling a 5-10 record in ACC play, including 3-7 in their last ten.
Sophomore guard Juke Harris leads Wake Forest in scoring. The Salisbury, NC native scores 21.7 points per game on 46.1 percent shooting, including 35.2 percent from deep. He also averages 6.6 rebounds per game. A few other Demon Deacons to watch in Saturday's conference clash with Syracuse are junior guard Myles Colvin (11.5 PPG and 4.3 RPG), senior forward Tre'Von Spillers (10.8 PPG and 5.8 RPG), and senior guard Nate Calmese (10.1 PPG and 4.8 APG). Wake Forest is ranked 80th nationally, including 75th in offensive efficiency rating and 103rd in defensive efficiency rating, per KenPom.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons Injury Report:
- No injuries to report.
Syracuse vs. Wake Forest Pick and Preview
Spread Pick for Syracuse vs. Wake Forest
- Demon Deacons -2.5 (4 Units)
I question whether the Orange are tough enough to bounce back on the road after losing by 37 to Duke and by 13 to North Carolina in their last two games. A week off could do wonders, or it could leave them rusty. I feel more confident laying the two points with the Demon Deacons, who had impressive wins over Clemson and Stanford in their last two home games. They should have enough offensive advantages against an Orange team ranked 340th nationally in defensive momentum and 289th in Haslametics' Away from Home metrics. Wake Forest takes good care of the basketball (3rd in TO% in ACC play) and forces turnovers on defense (4th in opponent TO%), which will be impactful in a competitive game between similarly-paced teams. Syracuse ranks 12th and 14th in the ACC in those two stats, so the edge is clearly on Wake's side.
Bet on the Deacs to make the most of those extra possessions and cover the 2.5-point spread!
Over/Under Pick for Syracuse vs. Wake Forest
- Over 149.5 (4 Units)
This matchup pits two of the conference's weakest defensive teams, as Syracuse ranks 14th in the ACC in adjusted defensive efficiency and Wake Forest ranks 16th. The Demon Deacons are especially soft inside the arc, ranking last in the ACC and 307th nationally in two-point defense. Considering that the Orange play mostly inside the arc with a low three-point attempt rate, I anticipate plenty of scoring from the Cuse's side on Saturday.
Both teams enter Saturday's matchup ranked outside the top 300 in defensive momentum, according to Haslametrics. They're both ranked inside the top 150 in schedule-adjusted tempo, per KenPom. Weak defenses and a high possession count should lead to a high-scoring game. Bet on the over at 149.5!
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