First look: Top storylines, betting odds for Clemson vs. Wake Forest football game
Clemson football got through the first quarter of its season with a perfect record. Now, coach Dabo Swinney’s Tigers will face their first true 2022 test one state above.
No. 5 Clemson travels to No. 21 Wake Forest this week for a battle between undefeated ACC Atlantic Division teams. Here’s a first look at the ranked matchup.
Clemson vs. Wake Forest game, TV info
Who: No. 5 Clemson (3-0, 1-0 ACC) at No. 21 Wake Forest (3-0, 0-0 ACC)
When: Noon Saturday, Sept. 24
Where: Truist Field, Winston-Salem, NC
TV: ABC
Vegas odds: Clemson, Wake Forest point spread
Clemson opened as a seven-point favorite against Wake Forest, according to odds released Sunday by Circa Sports. The Tigers were four-point favorites in last year’s game.
Last meeting, series trends
Clemson routed Wake Forest 48-27 in Memorial Stadium last season amid the Demon Deacons’ 2021 ACC Atlantic Division title run. The Tigers have won 13 straight games in the series and six straight on the road. Wake Forest’s last series win came in 2008.
Last week for Clemson
Another steady game from quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and another dominant performance by running back Will Shipley helped Clemson log its best offensive performance of the year in a 48-20 home win against Louisiana Tech on Saturday.
The Tigers led 13-6 at halftime before scoring 21 unanswered points in the third quarter (all off turnovers or fourth-down stops) and finishing with 521 yards of total offense. Clemson continued a Power Five-best nine-game winning streak dating back to 2021 and hasn’t trailed this season.
Last week for Wake Forest
Wake Forest survived a home scare against unranked Liberty, with three defenders teaming up to stuff what would’ve been a go-ahead two-point conversion attempt by the Flames with 1:11 left and escaping with a 37-36 win.
Quarterback Sam Hartman threw for 325 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while leading three fourth-quarter scoring drives in Wake Forest’s first one-score game of the season. Despite the win, coach Dave Clawson’s team dropped two spots from No. 19 to No. 21 in Sunday’s updated AP Top 25 poll.
Players to watch for Tigers, Demon Deacons
Clemson WR Antonio Williams: The true freshman slot man looks like a star in the making. He had a career-long 38-yard catch and added his first career touchdown on a 19-yard fade route in Clemson’s win over Louisiana Tech.
Clemson DB Malcolm Greene: Greene is quickly establishing himself as a playmaker in a Clemson secondary that’s been shaky at times. After forcing a fumble last week, he intercepted Louisiana Tech in the red zone during a key third-quarter run.
Wake Forest QB Sam Hartman: Any conversation about the Demon Deacons must include Hartman, who became the program’s all-time leading passer against Liberty. In two games since returning from a blood clot scare, Hartman has seven touchdowns against two interceptions and a 162.8 quarterback rating.
Wake Forest WR A.T. Perry: The reigning first-team all-conference pick has a team-high 222 receiving yards through three games. He should be a big factor, considering Wake Forest’s struggles running the ball and Clemson’s struggles stopping the pass.
