California, currently sitting at a record of 4-4 overall and winless in the Atlantic Coast Conference (0-4), is set to face Wake Forest, which also holds a 4-4 record but is doing slightly better in the conference with a 2-2 record. This matchup is scheduled for Friday at 8 p.m. EST and will air on the ACC Network. According to the latest odds from BetMGM, California is favored by 7 points. This game marks the first time these two programs will meet on the field.
The stakes are high for both teams as they aim for bowl eligibility with only a few games left in the regular season. Wake Forest is looking to improve its disappointing home record, where they have only won once in five tries this season. Meanwhile, California is eager to score its first victory in the ACC, which has been a challenging pursuit so far.
A key battle to watch will be between California’s solid defense and Wake Forest’s offense. The Bears have been particularly strong in defense, ranking tied for 13th in the nation for scoring defense, allowing an average of just 17.3 points per game, and 25th for total defense, giving up 320.6 yards per game. On the other hand, the Demon Deacons have shown they can put points on the board, ranking 11th in the conference with an average of 27.1 points, led by quarterback Hank Bachmeier, who passes for an average of 244.8 yards per game. Running back Demond Claiborne has also been a key contributor with eight rushing touchdowns, though his availability for this game is uncertain due to an injury.
Two players to keep an eye on include California’s quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Wake Forest’s defensive back Nick Andersen. Mendoza had a standout performance in a recent victory against Oregon State, where he threw for 364 yards and two touchdowns while completing an impressive 75% of his passes. On the defensive front, Andersen is making waves in the ACC by leading the conference with an average of 10.3 tackles per game. He is among a select group in the Bowl Subdivision consistently averaging double-digit tackles per game.
A few notable facts and figures highlight the context of this matchup. For California, this will be their third long-distance trip for a conference game this season, following setbacks at Florida State in late September and at No. 23 Pittsburgh in mid-October. The Bears have had a tough time, with their four losses this year coming by a mere cumulative total of nine points. Conversely, Wake Forest experienced a rough patch after winning their first matchup at home against North Carolina A&T, as they squandered a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter against Virginia, which initiated their current home losing streak. However, the Demon Deacons have excelled away, maintaining a perfect record of 3-0 on the road this year. California has managed to limit turnovers compared to last season, currently committing only five giveaways after an alarming 28 turnovers last year. Meanwhile, Wake Forest is refreshed coming off a bye week, following a victory over Stanford.