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We’re two weeks into the season and there have been plenty of interesting developments with Wake’s remaining opponents on the 2015 schedule. While Wake suffered a tough loss last Saturday in the Carrier Dome, multiple ACC teams seemed to struggle as well against weaker opponents last week, hinting that there could be a lot more winnable games on the schedule than first expected. Find out how the Deacs’ upcoming schedule did in Week 2 and who they have coming up this Saturday below.
The Matchup: @ Army
The Date: September 19
Their Week 2 Performance: L (17-22) to UCONN (Away)
Key Note from the Game: A very winnable game for Army turned into a devastating close loss once again as the Black Knights fell on the road to UCONN in Week 2. QB Ahmad Bradshaw continues to be the priority weapon for Army in their triple option system, rushing for 129 yards on 16 carries and a TD. Despite Bradshaw’s strong performance, the offense significantly struggled to move the ball in other ways and recorded only 9 first downs the entire game and barely eclipsed 20:00 of ball possession. No other rusher in Army’s run-heavy offense had more than 25 yards on the day.
Week 3 Matchup and Line: Home vs. Wake Forest (Wake Forest -6)
The Matchup: Indiana
The Date: September 26
Their Week 2 Performance: W (36-22) over FIU (Home)
Key Note from the Game: The Hoosiers continue to underperform against the cupcakes of FBS and found themselves losing to FIU 22-19 with just over 11 minutes to go in the 4th quarter. The scoreline indicates a more lopsided contest than it actually was, as FIU was driving and ready to tie the game up at 29 before a 96 yard INT return for a touchdown sealed the deal. Despite starting the season 2-0, Indiana has been outgained by Southern Illinois and FIU 1065-1034 at home so far.
Week 3 Matchup and Line: Home vs. Western Kentucky (Indiana -2)
The Matchup: Florida State
The Date: October 3
Their Week 2 Performance: W (34-14) over USF (Home)
Key Note from the Game: It certainly wasn’t a cakewalk for FSU at home against USF last week, with the Bulls managing to keep things level at 7-7 heading into the half. The breakout player of the week was FSU RB Dalvin Cook, who rushed for 266 yards on 30 carries and reached the endzone thrice to put the game out of reach in the second half. If Cook continues to play like he did last Saturday, the pressure on Everett Golson will continue to recede and the RB instead will establish himself as the Noles' premier 2016 Heisman candidate.
Week 3 Matchup and Line: Away @ BC (FSU -8)
The Matchup: @ BC
The Date: October 10
Their Week 2 Performance: W (76-0) over Howard (Home)
Key Note from the Game: In one of the more obscure games you’ll see all year, Boston College and Howard mutually agreed to reduce the 3rd and 4th quarters to 10 minutes each after the Eagles took a 62-0 lead into the break. Howard managed 11 total yards (Yes, you read that right) and let up a D1 season-high 41 points in the 1st quarter in a game that was pretty much over from the opening kickoff.
Week 3 Matchup and Line: Home vs. FSU (FSU-8)
The Matchup: @ UNC
The Date: October 17
Their Week 2 Performance: W (54-13) over NC A&T (Home)
Key Note from the Game: Chapel Hill used early turnovers to set the tone and get out to an early lead on their way to a 39-point victory over visiting NC A&T. The Tar Heels scored on 5 of their first 6 drives and QB Marquise Williams was effective from the field throwing for 211 yards and 2 scores. RB Eli Hood only averaged 3.5 YPC on the day, but recorded his first two TD’s of the season after a strong Week 1 performance against South Carolina.
Week 3 Matchup and Line: Home vs. Illinois (UNC -8)
The Matchup: NC State
The Date: October 24
Their Week 2 Performance: W (35-0) over Eastern Kentucky (Home)
Key Note from the Game: NC State’s journey through "Cupcake Kingdom" continued last week when they invited Eastern Kentucky into Raleigh for their Week 2 matchup. With over 40 minutes of possession, 18 more first downs, and 300+ more yards than their counterparts, you can guess how the game pretty much went simply by looking at the box score. With Road games against ODU this weekend and South Alabama after that, no one is really going to know how good this NC State team is until ACC play, which makes that Week 5 matchup against struggling Louisville that much more interesting.
Week 3 Matchup and Line: Away @ Old Dominion (NC State -18)
The Matchup: Louisville
The Date: October 30
Their Week 2 Performance: L (34-31) to Houston (Home)
Key Note from the Game: After losing a close game to Auburn that was there for the taking in Week 1, UL was looking to bounce back at home against an underrated Houston side. Early on Houston indicated the game was going to be a dogfight and in the 2nd half kept answering Louisville scores with TD's of their own, including the last one with just over 3 minutes left. 4 turnovers and a late missed FG were enough to flop the Cards to 0-2 prior to a very tough game against #13 Clemson.
Their Week 3 Performance: (Thursday): L (17-20) to Clemson (Home)
The Matchup: @ Notre Dame
The Date: November 14
Their Week 2 Performance: W (34-27) over UVA (Away)
Key Note from the Game: Notre Dame survived a thriller in Charlottesville last week using a 39-yard pass with twelve seconds to go in the 4th to stay unbeaten and move to 2-0. The victory wasn’t without its costs, however, as starting QB Malik Zaire suffered a broken ankle midway through the game that will keep him out of the November 14 matchup against Wake Forest and the rest of the season. Star RB Tarean Folston tore his ACL in Week 1 against Texas, making Zaire’s injury that much more devastating on a Notre Dame offense that is trying its best to replace 2014 weapons. Backup QB Deshone Kizer was 8-12 for 92 yards and 2 TD’s after coming in and will be up against a strong GT defense in Week 2 for his first career start.
Week 3 Matchup and Line: Home vs. Georgia Tech (GA Tech -3)
The Matchup: @ Clemson
The Date: November 21
Their Week 2 Performance: W (41-10) over App State (Home)
Key Note from the Game: Clemson was never really in danger of falling to FCS App State in Death Valley last week, but their offense was far from perfect in their 41-10 victory. INT, FG, Punt, Punt were the Tigers’ first four possessions of the game and on 9 separate occasions the Tigers had drives of 5 plays and less than 20 yards of offense. Overall, the absence of WR Mike Williams for an extended period of time might make a usual high-octane Clemson offense a lot more mortal in 2015.
Week 3 Matchup (Thursday): W (20-17) over Louisville (Away)
The Matchup: Duke
The Date: November 28
Their Week 2 Performance: W (55-0) over NCCU (Home)
Key Note from the Game: Duke had a relatively easy Week 2 with NCCU coming into town and promptly getting shut out 55-0. QB Thomas Sirk has been fantastic through the first two weeks of the season with 758 yards of total offense and 6 touchdowns in his opening starts. The Blue Devils will finally face a difficult opponent in Week 3 with #23 Northwestern flying into Durham just two weeks removed from an impressive 16-6 victory over Stanford in Evanston.
Week 3 Matchup and Line: Home vs. Northwestern (Duke -3.5)
Here are some more stats to look over about Wake’s remaining opponents:
Remaining Opponents’ Combined Record in Week 1: 7-3
Remaining Opponents’ Combined Record in Week 2: 8-2
Remaining Opponents Favored in Week 2: 6 (BC, UL, Army, ND not favored)
For more on the Deacs’ matchup tomorrow against Army, here are some BSD must-reads prior to the game.
Army Black Knights- Team Preview
BSD Staff Predictions- WF vs. Army
Understanding and Defending the Triple Option
For more on Wake Forest football news throughout the season, stay tuned to BSD for the latest. And, as always, Go Deacs!