Western Carolina at Wake Forest - 2025 Matchup Preview
Western Carolina logo   Western Carolina Catamounts at Wake Forest Demon Deacons  Wake Forest logo
Saturday, September 6th 2025 (2:00 PM EDT)
Wake Forest -17.5 (60.5) (-1400)  Open: -20.0 | 61.5
Wake Forest 42 - Western Carolina: 10

 
Catamounts (0 - 1) (0 - 1 - 0)
Coach ( - )
Avg Score : 10 - 42 (10 - 42 on Road)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)
WAKE 2nd straight Home Game
Our Line: Wake Forest -9  (SP+ WAKE -6)
WAKE Win prob: 89% | Cover: 51%
Demon Deacons (9 - 4) (9 - 4 - 0)
Coach Jake Dickert (0 - 0)
Avg Score : 28 - 22 (28 - 17 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 8.6 - 4.4 (#38)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: 0) (Good: 5) (Avg: 3) (Bad: 3)
 
Western Carolina's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
BYE WEEK
Sat 9/6 Western Carolina at Wake Forest+17.560.5L 10 - 42UN

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Western Carolina's Schedule
Wake Forest's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Fri 8/29 Wake Forest vs Kennesaw State-17.551.5W 10 - 9UN
Sat 9/6 Wake Forest vs Western Carolina-17.560.5W 42 - 10UY
Thu 9/11 Wake Forest vs NC State+7.552.5L 24 - 34ON
BYE WEEK
Sat 9/27 Wake Forest vs Georgia Tech+13.553.5L 29 - 30OY
Sat 10/4 Wake Forest at Virginia Tech+4.551.5W 30 - 23OY
Sat 10/11 Wake Forest at Oregon State-1.547.5W 39 - 14OY
BYE WEEK
Sat 10/25 Wake Forest vs SMU+6.553.5W 13 - 12UY
Sat 11/1 Wake Forest at Florida State+12.550.5L 7 - 42UN
Sat 11/8 Wake Forest at Virginia+7.048.5W 16 - 9UY
Sat 11/15 Wake Forest vs North Carolina-3.537.5W 28 - 12OY
Sat 11/22 Wake Forest vs Delaware-17.549.5W 52 - 14OY
Sat 11/29 Wake Forest at Duke+2.554.0L 32 - 49ON
Fri 1/2 Wake Forest vs Mississippi State+3.052.5W 43 - 29OY

Total: Elite: 0, Good: 5, Avg 3, Bad 1, Poor 3
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 1
Future: Elite: 0, Good: 5, Avg 3, Bad 1, Poor 2
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 1
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for Wake Forest's Schedule
Important Stats (2024)
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
WCU0%100%000%000%420%0%0000
WAKE#104 (.13)42% (81)28.143% (79)3 (79)13141% (75)2403.2 (121)#118 (.27)51% (134)22.148% (110)53% (133)4.12 (99)45.91.81.4
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
WCU0%0%000%000%0%0%0000
WAKE0%0%000%000%0%0%0000



Overall Stats 2024
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
WCU Offense110100%00000000%0%0%0%0%
WAKE Defense1222.117.350.7%4.121.4 - - - - - 44%56%48%53%12%.27
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
WCU Defense142420%00 - - - - - 0%0%0%0%0%
WAKE Offense1228.128.341.9%3.21.8223721312403.648%52%43%41%16%.13

Additional Stats 2024
 Teams                  GamesPossession Time1st Downs PG3rd Down %4th Down %Penalties PGPenalty Yds PGOff TO PGDef TO PGTFL PGSacks PGD/ST TDsAvg Field Pos
Western Carolina10:000NAN%0%0000000100
Wake Forest1228:5121.839%64%5.145.91.81.44.91.7229
Run Game Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
WCU Offense10%0%000000%0%0
WAKE Defense1244% (6)48% (110) - - - - .18 (101)3.13 (88)80% (112)8% (110)0.96 (58)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
WCU Defense10%0% - - - - 00%0%0
WAKE Offense1248% (86)43% (79)36.4131.43.618 (78).05 (106)3 (79)81% (18)10% (70)0.92 (88)

Pass Game Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
WCU Offense10%0%000000000%0%0%0
WAKE Defense1256% (129)53% (133) - - - - - - 11 (52).36 (116)1.3 (2)26% (130)40% (132).41 (106)4% (131)1.8 (18)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
WCU Defense10%0% - - - - - - 000%0%0%0
WAKE Offense1252% (50)41% (75)20.733.6240.17.211.617 (79)13 (103).23 (83)1.5 (115)31% (63)28% (102).15 (125)7% (93)1.9 (103)

Western Carolina's Power Ratings
Western Carolina's Power Rating: NR
Western Carolina's Offense Rating: NR
Western Carolina's Defense Rating: NR
2025 Talent Rating: NR
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% NR
Western Carolina's 2025 Expected Record: -
Western Carolina's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: NR
Western Carolina's Offense SP+ Rating: NR
Western Carolina's Defense SP+ Rating: NR

Average Talent
Average Southern Talent Rating is 0
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.76

Power Ratings Matchup
Western Carolina:    Wake Forest: 9.215

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Western Carolina:    Wake Forest: 5.7




Wake Forest's Power Ratings
Wake Forest's Power Rating: 9.215  #48
Wake Forest's Offense Rating: 11.98  #75
Wake Forest's Defense Rating: 4.25  #18
2025 Talent Rating: 866.00  #35
Blue Chip Ratio: 3  #65
Wake Forest's 2025 Expected Record: 8.6 - 4.4
Wake Forest's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: 5.7  #52
Wake Forest's Offense SP+ Rating: 26.6  #70
Wake Forest's Defense SP+ Rating: 20.9  #34

Average Talent
Average ACC Talent Rating is 852.82
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.76


Western Carolina Scoring
Offense: 10 PPG
Offense on Road: 10
Defense: 42 PPG
Defense on Road: 42

Western Carolina's 2025 Record
Record: 0 - 1
Record vs Spread: 0 - 1 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 1
Record on Road: 0 - 1
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 1 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 0 - 1 - 0
Record as Road Dog vs Spread: 0 - 1 - 0
Projected Score
Wake Forest 32
Western Carolina 23

Projected Total Points: 55
Wake Forest Scoring
Offense: 28.1 PPG
Offense at Home: 28.3
Defense: 22.1 PPG
Defense at Home: 17.3

Wake Forest's 2025 Record
Record: 9 - 4
Record vs Spread: 9 - 4 - 0
Over/Under Record: 8 - 5
Record at home: 5 - 2
Record vs Spread at home: 5 - 2 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 4 - 1 - 0
Record as Home Fav vs Spread: 3 - 1 - 0


YearDateHomeScoreAwayScoreSpreadCoverTotalO/U
202509/06Wake Forest42Western Carolina10Wake Forest -17.5Wake Forest60.5Under
TeamWinsCoversO/U
Wake Forest110 Overs
Western Carolina001 Unders

WinsCoversFavsDogs
Home Teams1 - 01 - 01 - 00 - 0
Road Teams0 - 10 - 10 - 00 - 1

(#) WCU at (#48) WAKE
Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCatWCUWAKE
Net PPPPPPNRNR
Power RatePwrNR #48
SP+SP+NR #52
Perf GradeGradeNR #63
OffenseOffNR #103
DefenseDefNR #28
Spec TeamsSTNR #11
TalentTalNR #35
Blue ChipsBC%NR #65
Wake Forest Notes
(11/5) Ugly L @ FSU, Box score much closer, 11 pen/2 TO
(10/24) Robby Ashford ? again vs SMU, Purdie good vs OSU
(10/7) Great W over VT, Def held Hokies to 263 yds, 7-17 3rd
(9/11) Off fast start vs NC St, 2nd half went nowhere
(9/11) LBs are small, DL has to run fit well or busted
(9/11) Ashford 4 passes for 164, 32 others for 88 yds
(9/5) Def a bottom P5, Kenn St moved the ball
(8/30) Ashford decent #'s vs Kenn., but not an FBS QB
(8/24) QB1 Robby Ashford won starting job in camp
(7/31) HC Dickert good hire, but year 0, real bad
(7/30) OL 0/5 back. 5 portal starters added, all G5
(5/15) 89% of OL exp is from G5 portals
Wake Forest Injury Report
Western Carolina on Offense
CategoryCat
WCU OffWAKE Def
PPPOffPPPNRNR
Perf GradePerfNR #28
SuccessSucNR #134
ExplosiveExpNR #12
PPAPPANR #118
PowerPwrNR #18
SP+SP+NR #34
Pts POPPONR #99
HavocHavNR #130
Western Carolina Run Game
CategoryCat
WCU OffWAKE Def
Run GameRunNR #53
Run SuccessRSucNR #110
Run ExplRExpNR #58
PPAExpNR #101
Run BlockR BlkNR -
OL YdsOLYNR #88
Stuff RateStuffNR #98
TackleTak -  #91
Western Carolina Pass Game
CategoryCat
WCU OffWAKE Def
Pass GamePassNR #23
Pass SuccessPSucNR #133
Pass ExplPExlNR #2
PPAExpNR #116
Pass Rush/BlockP BlkNR #26
F7 HavocF7NR #110
DB HavocDBNR #131
Wake Forest on Offense
Balanced offense, Pass: 48%, Run: 50%
CategoryCatWAKE OffWCU Def
PPPDefPPPNRNR
Perf GradePerf #103NR
SuccessSuc #81NR
ExplosiveExp #111NR
PPAPPA #104NR
PowerPwr #75NR
SP+SP+ #70NR
Pts POPPO #121NR
HavocHav #82NR
Wake Forest Run Game
Balanced offense, Pass: 48%, Run: 50%
CategoryCat
WAKE OffWCU Def
Run GameRun #99NR
Run SuccessRSuc #79NR
Run ExplRExp #88NR
PPAExp #106NR
Run BlockR Blk #114 -
OL YdsOLY #79NR
Stuff RateStuff #55NR
TackleTak - NR
Wake Forest Pass Game
Balanced offense, Pass: 48%, Run: 50%
CategoryCatWAKE OffWCU Def
Pass GamePass #100NR
Pass SuccessPSuc #75NR
Pass ExplPExl #115NR
PPAExp #83NR
Pass Block/RushP Blk #16NR
F7 HavocF7 #70NR
DB HavocDB #93NR
Program Comparison
WAKE 5 Year Profile: Improving Top G5
'25 Profile: Up to Below Avg P4

WCU 5 Year Profile: Consistent Poor G5
'25 Profile: Remains Poor G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in BB&T Field
Conditions:
Temp: 0°
Rematch from Week 2
Wake Forest -17.5 (60.5)
Wake Forest won vs Western Carolina this year (42-10)

Previous Matchups
Wake Forest beat Western Carolina last year (42-10)

  
WCU's OC ()
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Taron Dickens27136574%35083829.6
Bennett Judy508360%420325.1
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Patrick Boyd Jr.9042014.770
Markel Townsend7032264.638
Taron Dickens9732113.328
Branson Adams3814713.913
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
James Tyre688321112.242
Malik Knight47774716.569
Michael Rossin22462621.064
Patrick Boyd Jr.3432229.541

View Western Carolina's Full Roster

WCU's DC ()
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Samaurie Dukes53001
Darian Anderson Jr.41000
Ryan Mckinnis (Tr)40000
Jeno Junius Jr.30000
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Samaurie Dukes53001
Jahleel Anderson11000
Marseille Taylor10000
Vanier Baptiste III10000
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Hayward McQueen III31001
Samaurie Dukes53001
Sean Morris11000

WAKE's OC Rob Ezell (in his first season)
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Robby Ashford (Tr)19132259%24721287.7
Deshawn Purdie (Tr)418250%618637.5
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Demond Claiborne179905105.185
Robby Ashford (Tr)13055494.343
Ty Clark III7532334.315
Chris Barnes (Tr)13143011.078
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Carlos Hernandez (Tr)40611315.393
Chris Barnes (Tr)39547314.070
Sterling Berkhalter (Tr)30416213.951
Sawyer Racanelli (Tr)18315117.562

View Wake Forest's Full Roster

WAKE's DC Scottie Hazelton (in his first season)
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Nick Andersen1077207
Davaughn Patterson804049
Dylan Hazen739053
Aiden Hall738023
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Langston Hardy (Tr)6515790
Nuer Gatkuoth (Tr)399680
Gabe Kirschke (Tr)379540
Dallas Afalava (Tr)336481
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Davaughn Patterson804049
Karon Prunty (Tr)402118
Nick Andersen1077207