The Florida Gators take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Kissimmee, FL, as part of the ESPN Events Invitational. Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Florida is favored by 5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -250. The total is set at 151 points.
Here’s my Florida vs. Wake Forest predictions and college basketball picks for November 28, 2024.
Florida vs Wake Forest Prediction
My Pick: Wake Forest +6.5
My Florida vs Wake Forest best bets is on the Demon Deacons spread, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Florida vs Wake Forest Odds
| Florida Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -110 | 151 -110 / -110 | -250 |
| Wake Forest Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -110 | 151 -110 / -110 | +340 |
- Florida vs Wake Forest spread: Florida -5.5
- Florida vs Wake Forest over/under: 151 points
- Florida vs Wake Forest moneyline: Florida -250, Wake Forest +205
- Florida vs Wake Forest best bet: Wake Forest +6.5
Spread
I'm taking the Demon Deacons on the spread.
Moneyline
I'm passing on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm avoiding the total.
My Pick: Wake Forest +6.5
Florida vs Wake Forest College Basketball Betting Preview
Wake Forest and Florida square off on Turkey Day in Kissimmee, FL, at the ESPN Events Invitational. Both squads entered 2024 with massive expectations, but they have trended in opposite directions through the early going.
Florida has been a buzzsaw, smashing through a decent schedule that features a road win at rival Florida State. The Gators boast the nation’s eighth-best offense, per KenPom, and have yet to lose.
Wake might be 6-1, but the Demon Deacons have been far from what many thought they could be this year. At 1-6 ATS with a -11.7 cover margin, Wake has been one of the least profitable teams to bet on in November.
The Demon Deacons have dropped 55 spots in KenPom and have struggled to convincingly beat inferior competition.
The paint battle will be something to watch on Florida’s offensive end. The Gators have had success playing through the post, getting into the lane via dribble penetration, and dominating at the rim.
Per CBB Analytics, the Gators rank in the 84th percentile in field goal attempt rate at the rim and in the 88th percentile in field goal percentage at the rim.
Florida, and its two-big lineup, has owned the offensive glass this season, as the Gators have grabbed over 40% of their misses – the 12th-best mark in the land.
Wake has the size to put up a fight on this end, and the Demon Deacons have been good at defending the paint.
Xavier struggled to score inside against them, despite winning the game, and Michigan was slowed enough for Wake to emerge victorious. Florida is a bit of different animal, though, and Wake has been vulnerable on the defensive glass this season.
Wake’s offense just hasn’t shown up yet this year. If the season ended today, Wake’s 143rd-ranked offense would be the program’s worst since Steve Forbes’ first year in 2021 and the third-worst since 2014.
While the Demon Deacons have a bevy of talented individual players, they just haven’t worked well together. The offense mostly consists of watching either Hunter Sallis or Cameron Hildreth dribble the basketball late into the clock. Half-court sets have stagnated far too often.
Florida’s defense is rock solid – it defends the 3-point line at a high level, ranking 18th nationally in 3-point attempt rate allowed, and its two-big system has enabled it to rank fifth nationally in field goal percentage allowed at the rim.
If Wake is forced to play in the half-court, it will be a major challenge to score.
Florida has the matchup edge, but this spread is also too high. For a team as talented as Wake to be getting this many points is incredible. Forbes is still an excellent coach, and it could just be a matter of time before this team starts clicking.
There are too many good playmakers to feel confident in laying this many points against the Deacs. Therefore, we hold our nose and put our money on Wake.
