College Football Picks: Miami vs. Wake Forest (Friday)
The first few weeks of the 2026 college football season have been nothing short of thrilling. Week 3’s slate features a trio of games on Friday night - an ACC showdown, a battle of top-25 squads and an in-state clash highlight the schedule. With that said, here's a look at my favorite college football picks for Friday's contest Miami vs. Wake Forest.
- More NCAAF Betting Advice
- Expert Game Picks for College Football
- Top Bettor Picks for College Football
- NCAAF Betting Strategy
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Friday’s Best College Football Picks: Miami vs. Wake Forest
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
No. 5 Miami Hurricanes vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
It’s not often that both a quarterback and a wide receiver from the same university boast top-six Heisman Trophy odds. That is the case with Miami in 2026. Quarterback Darian Mensah leads all candidates with +500 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook, after racking up 653 passing yards and eight touchdowns (with zero interceptions) across two victories. His go-to target, Malachi Toney, rounds out the top six at +1300 odds. The electric pass-catcher has tallied 330 yards and four touchdowns on 16 receptions.
Those two can connect for a score at any moment, making the Hurricanes’ offense a tough matchup for anyone in the country. Wake Forest will certainly have its hands full. The Demon Deacons have already shown signs of trouble on defense, allowing 380 yards per game and a 44.8% opponent third-down conversion rate through two contests. Each of those marks ranks outside the top 70. Mensah has an opportunity to ball out versus a secondary that has surrendered a whopping 80% completion rate.
Wake Forest’s offense is no slouch, considering quarterback Gio Lopez has yet to throw an interception and wide receiver Carlos Hernandez is averaging an impressive 23.0 yards per catch. Keeping up for all four quarters will be difficult, though. Expect the visiting team to pull away late and begin ACC play with a bang. Overall, the Hurricanes have won eight straight meetings against the Demon Deacons, by an average of 21.8 points. They’ve also won six straight regular-season games by an average of 36.5 Points.
Pick: Miami Hurricanes -20.5 (-115)