Wake Forest Head Coach Dave Clawson Celebrating Another Successful Drive.

Trust the Process:

I’ll be using a standard format across all Chop’s Takes:

1. I’ll take a look at the returning production (keeping in mind the evaluation of talent applicable to each ACC Program) and compare to each team they face on their schedule.
2. I’ll look at the opponent faced the week before, that game’s final score, and days passed before the current game being evaluated.
3. I’ll take a look at the opponent the ACC team faces after the present game, considering look-ahead games and rivalries, and days separating that game from the present.
4. I’ll weigh advantages of home versus away games for each game.
5. Where possible, I’ll take into consideration potential weather considerations (not Hurricanes or other natural disasters but rather seasonal conditions).

Wake Forest’s 2018 Football Schedule:

Tulane (Thursday August 30th, 2018 at 8:00 P.M. EST away)

Television: CBS Sports Network

Previous Game: N/A

Following Game: Nicholls State (September 8th, 2018 8:00 P.M. EST at home on ESPN3)

Prediction: Wake Forest WIN

This game SCREAMS trap game for Wake Forest, however this being the opening game of the season, Wake Forest should come prepared. I believe Dave Clawson to be the better coach in this situation, and also anticipate Wake Forest to have the more talented roster. Tulane should be stout on offense, however lack leadership on defense. The home advantage goes to Tulane, however I don’t believe they have the defensive capabilities to stop Wake Forest over a drawn-out game. It’ll be close for comfort, but Wake Forest will win.

Towson (September 8th, 2018 12:00 P.M. EST at home)

Television: ACC Network Extra

Previous Game: Morgan State (September 1st, 2018 7:00 P.M. EST away)

Following Game: Villanova (September 15th, 2018 3:30 P.M. EST away)

Prediction: Wake Forest WIN

I’ll keep this brief: ACC teams SHOULD win their FCS match-ups. Wake Forest is at home against a vastly inferior opponent. Wake Forest should win this. Next.

Boston College (September 13th, 2018 7:30 P.M. EST at home)

Television: ESPN

Previous Game: Holy Cross (September 8th, 2018 1:00 P.M. EST at home)

Following Game: Purdue (September 22nd, 2018 12:00 P.M. EST on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 away)

Prediction: Wake Forest WIN

Great schedule placement for Wake Forest, as I think Boston College will surprise most in the Atlantic otherwise. Both teams come off easy games the week before, Wake Forest has a 9 day break before facing Notre Dame (not easy but extended break helps). Talent-wise both programs are on par, with returning production on a similar level. While Boston College has a very slight edge here, Dave Clawson is proving to be a formidable coach in the ACC and is (in my opinion) a better head coach than Steve Addazio. This game is also a home game for Wake Forest, and is on a Thursday night.

Notre Dame (September 22nd, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Vanderbilt (September 15th 2:30 P.M. EST at home on NBC)

Following Game: Stanford (September 29th, 2018 7:30 P.M. EST at home on NBC)

Prediction: Wake Forest WIN

Yes I am going out on a limb here and calling the UPSET! However, this isn’t all that far-fetched if you actually take a look at Notre Dame’s schedule. Notre Dame has arguably the best defense in the country this season. However, their offense will be middle-of-the-road or potentially bad. They’re lacking leadership on that side of the ball. They’ll be prepared for Michigan on opening night at home, I believe. They’ll take it to Ball State at home, and I don’t really think Vanderbilt has what it takes to topple the mighty Irish at South Bend either. However, Wake Forest is a sneaky-good Atlantic team nestled unsuspectingly in-between Vanderbilt and a titanic match-up versus Stanford. I think the Demon Deacons will catch the Irish looking-ahead at just the right time. Under any other circumstance, the Irish would win. In this scenario, I suspect the Demon Deacons will crash the Catholic party in Winston-Salem!

Rice (September 29th, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Southern Miss (September 22nd, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. EST on ESPN+ away)

Following Game: UTSA (October 6th, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. EST on ESPN3 at home)

Prediction: Wake Forest WIN

Wake Forest is lucky to have Rice at home this game, I might consider putting this game as a potential upset alert otherwise. From a scheduling standpoint, this game is nestled between the Notre Dame game and Clemson for the Demon Deacons. That doesn’t bode well for Wake Forest, whom might have aspirations of dethroning the Tigers after their home victory over the Fighting Irish. Still, the leadership on both sides of the ball and talent at Wake Forest as compared to Rice will make the difference in this game. 

Clemson (October 6th, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Syracuse (September 29th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: NC State (October 20th, 2018 at home)

Prediction: Wake Forest LOSS

This is the first loss on the Wake Forest schedule. Pretty impressive for the Demon Deacons. However, as Clemson has a bye after this game, and face a Syracuse team the week before that they’ll be anticipating, I think that Clemson will easily overcome the home field advantage that Wake would otherwise offer. Clemson’s leadership on defense is staggering, and the talent on offense is raw. This game simply does not set-up well for the Deacons at all. I don’t think the game is close, Clemson will roll.

Florida State (October 20th, 2018 away)

Previous Game: Miami (October 6th, 2018 Rivalry away)

Following Game: Clemson (October 27th, 2018 Rivalry at home)

Prediction: Wake Forest LOSS

This game, on paper, would seemingly look like a potential upset against FSU. FSU is under a regime change, and facing their perennial rival Clemson the following week. The advantage at home for FSU will come into play here. The talent on defense is fresh however I suspect developed enough by new defensive coordinator that they’ll be able to handle the Wake Forest offense on talent alone. The offense, if the O-line can hold-up, should be dynamic in Willie’s system. This spells loss for Wake Forest at Doak Campbell.

Louisville (October 27th, 2018 away)

Previous Game: Boston College (October 13th, 2018 away)

Following Game: Clemson (November 3rd, 2018 away)

Prediction: Wake Forest WIN

Louisville will be undergoing pains in rebuilding after the loss of Lamar Jackson this season. Their defense will be tattered, with ill the pieces to replace the talent that departed for the NFL. Louisville will be looking-ahead to Clemson. Wake Forest will be looking for a win at an away game. While at home and coming off a bye week, I don’t think it’ll be enough to push this depleted team over the edge against an angry Wake Forest squad.

Syracuse (November 3rd, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: NC State (October 27th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Louisville (Friday November 9th, 2018 7:00 P.M. EST at home on ESPN2)

Prediction: Wake Forest WIN

Hapless Syracuse will have to face-off against Wake Forest on their homecoming night. While Wake Forest might be in a prime position to be upset, I just don’t think Syracuse has the pieces on defense to contend against Wake Forest on their home turf. Syracuse Orange will fall to the Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem.

NC State (Thursday November 8th, 2018 at 7:30 P.M. EST on ESPN away)

Previous Game: Florida State (November 3rd, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Louisville (November 17th, 2018 away)

Rivalry Game

Prediction: Wake Forest LOSS

This rivalry game couldn’t come at a worse time for Wake Forest. NC State will be riding high off their win over the Seminoles, and take-on the Demon Deacons at home on homecoming. They won’t allow for this loss, and have the team in place to counter anything Wake Forest can throw at them on their home turf. The edge goes to the Wolfpack.

Pittsburgh (November 17th, 2018 at home)

Previous Game: Virginia Tech (November 10th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Miami (November 24th, 2018 away)

Prediction: Wake Forest LOSS

This seems like a pretty strange loss. Allow me to explain. Wake Forest is coming off a rough game against their rival, and will face yet another on Rivalry week. Wake Forest knows it is out of contention for the Atlantic at this stage, having lost to undefeated Clemson, a rising Seminole squad, and their hated rival NC State. Despite a balanced roster and playing at home, Wake Forest has its eyes on another prize: owning its rival in the following week. That’ll cost the Deacons here.

Duke (November 24th, 2018 away)

Previous Game: Clemson (November 17th, 2018 away)

Following Game: N/A

Rivalry Game

Prediction: Wake Forest LOSS

Looking ahead to this game won’t yield results. Duke is a dark horse contender in the Coastal, and David Cutcliff is no-slouch in preparing his teams for their rivals. While Duke is coming off a tough loss to Clemson, they’ll rebound against their rival. It’ll be a tight game, and should be plenty of fun, but the home field advantage for Duke will seal the deal.

My Predicted 2018 Regular Season Record for Wake Forest: 7-5 (3-5 ACC)

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