Wake Forest will face its first FBS opponent of the season when it hosts Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Demon Deacons are coming off a 37-17 win over FCS Elon in their opener, with new starting quarterback Mitch Griffis throwing three first-half touchdowns.
The Commodores are looking to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2017 after beating Hawaii and Alabama A&M in their first two games. Vandy was handed a 45-25 loss at home by the Deacons a year ago as Wake won the turnover battle 3-1.
The Game
Vanderbilt at Wake Forest
Winston-Salem
Saturday, 11 a.m., ACC Network
Records
Wake Forest: 1-0 (0-0 ACC)
Vanderbilt: 2-0 (0-0 SEC)
Head-to-head
Vanderbilt leads 10-7 all-time, but Wake won 45-25 a year ago in Nashville, Tennessee.
Players to Watch
Wake Forest wide receiver Jahmal Banks: Banks had six catches for 108 yards and a touchdown, emerging as Griffis’ top target with A.T. Perry off to the NFL and Donavon Greene out with a knee injury. It was the second 100-yard game of Banks’ collegiate career — he went 6-141-2 in a wild double-overtime loss to Clemson last year — and he will look to exploit a pass defense that ranked 128th in the country last season.
Vanderbilt running back Sedrick Alexander: The Commodores struggled to run the ball against Hawaii in their opener, totaling just 39 yards on 26 carries. Things got better against FCS Alabama A&M as Vanderbilt rushed for 215 yards. Alexander, a freshman, led the way with 87 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns and may have convinced coach Clark Lea to make him the featured back after he only got two carries in the opener.
Odds
Betonline.ag: Wake Forest -10, over/under 55½
