Virginia Tech vs. Wake Forest Picks and Prediction for Saturday, January 3, 2026
On Saturday, the Virginia Tech Hokies will face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in an ACC basketball game, and we have you ready to go with our Virginia Tech vs. Wake Forest prediction, odds, and preview. Tip-off from LJVM Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC, is at noon ET.
These schools played once last season, a game the Demon Deacons won 72-63. They have won and covered in four of their last five games against the Hokies, but VT won the previous five games. The over was 7-3 in the last ten matchups. If you want the Virginia Tech vs. Wake Forest prediction, read on to get our top NCAAB predictions and increase your bankroll!
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Can Hokies build off their momentum?
Virginia Tech (12-2 SU, 8-6 ATS, and 2-1 O/U) beat #21 Virginia 95-85 on Wednesday. The in-state rivals battled into triple overtime, when the Hokies pulled away to secure the home win. Sophomore guard Ben Hammond scored a career-high 30 points off the bench, knocking down 16 of his 18 free throws. There were 17 ties and 20 lead changes in the game, as both teams shot under 40 percent from the field. Virginia Tech won the rebounding and turnover battles, and outscored the Cavaliers 28-11 at the charity stripe.
VT scores 84.0 points per game (120th) on 46.0 percent shooting (162nd), including 35.6 percent from beyond the arc (99th). The Hokies' opponents average 73.5 points (142nd) on 42.2 percent shooting (121st), including 28.8 percent from three-point range (30th). The 2025-26 team features four returning players, three transfers, and six freshmen. VT was selected to finish 12th in the ACC Preseason Poll.
Senior forward Tobi Lawal is the headliner of the returnees, averaging 12.8 points and 10.3 rebounds this season. He has been out since November 26, but is a game-time decision for Saturday's game. Junior guard Jaden Schutt (10.5 PPG), who started his career at Duke, is a three-point threat (44.2%), and Tyler Johnson (9.5 PPG and 5.3 RPG) and Ben Hammond (11.5 PPG and 3.6 APG) have become key contributors after playing significant minutes last season as freshmen. The newcomers to watch are junior forward Amani Hansberry (16.3 PPG and 8.9 RPG), freshman guard Neoklis Avdalas (14.8 PPG and 4.9 APG), and senior guard Jailen Bedford (8.1 PPG). VT is ranked 62nd nationally, including 84th in offensive efficiency rating and 57th in defensive efficiency rating, according to KenPom.
Virginia Tech Hokies Basketball Injury Report:
- G Tyler Johnson (undisclosed), F Tobi Lawal (foot), and C Antonio Dorn (back) are questionable to play against Wake Forest.
Demon Deacons have struggled in their last three games
Wake Forest (9-5 SU, 6-8 ATS, and 7-7 O/U) lost 70-57 on the road to NC State on Wednesday. The Demon Deacons trailed by only four at halftime, but couldn't keep pace in the second half. They shot 34 percent overall, including 26 percent from three-point distance, and were outscored 38-24 in the paint. The Wolfpack led for 73 percent of the game.
Wake Forest scores 82.0 points per game (148th) on 44.8 percent shooting (224th), including 32.9 percent from beyond the arc (236th). Defensively, the Deacs surrender 74.0 points per game (148th) on 42.6 percent shooting (137th), including 30.2 percent from three-point range (63rd). Wake returns 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 were picked to finish 11th in the ACC's preseason poll.
Sophomore guard Juke Harris leads Wake Forest in scoring. The Salisbury, NC native scores 19.7 points per game on 44.9 percent shooting, including 32.6 percent from deep. He also averages 6.7 rebounds per game. A few other Demon Deacons to watch in Saturday's conference clash with Virginia Tech are junior guard Myles Colvin (13.7 PPG and 4.4 RPG), senior forward Tre'Von Spillers (12.0 PPG and 5.9 RPG), and senior guard Mekhi Mason (8.4 PPG and 3.7 RPG). Wake Forest is ranked 61st nationally, including 99th in offensive efficiency rating and 44th in defensive efficiency rating, per KenPom.
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Wake Forest Demon Deacons Basketball Injury Report:
- No significant injuries to report.
Virginia Tech vs. Wake Forest Pick and Preview
Spread Pick for Virginia Tech vs. Wake Forest
- Hokies cover (4 Units)
These teams are both mediocre offensively and roughly top-50 units defensively, which should result in a competitive game. While the Demon Deacons have home-court advantage, the Hokies have the edge in momentum. The visitors have also been more consistent, while Wake Forest has unraveled recently after starting the season strong, losing by one point to both top-ranked Michigan and 15th-ranked Texas Tech. The Deacs haven't looked like the same team recently, though, having barely beaten Longwood, lost by 31 to Vanderbilt, and by 13 to NC State in their last three games.
The visitors may welcome back two key players in their glue guy, Young (9.5 PPG and 5.3 RPG), and their star forward, Lawal, for Saturday's game, which will significantly boost their rotation. That said, I like VT's chances with or without them. They have still been competitive without Lawal, upsetting UVA in their last game and winning six straight. Their perimeter defense is excellent, and they rarely give opponents opportunities to cash in at the charity stripe (12th-lowest opponent FT attempt rate).
Over/Under Pick for Virginia Tech vs. Wake Forest
- Under (4 Units)
In a conference clash between defensive-minded teams, I recommend a wager on the under, which is 4-2 in Wake's last six games.
Both teams lack offensive momentum, ranking 316th (VT) and 355th (WF) nationally, according to Haslametrics. They will lock in on the other end of the court, however, especially on the perimeter. Both teams should be able to box out for offensive rebounds, but neither is efficient enough offensively to make the most of those second-chance scoring opportunities, which will result in more scoreless possessions. The slower-paced Hokies will also look to slow the tempo, especially after a tiring three-overtime game against rival UVA on Wednesday.
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