Syracuse Orange vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons Picks and Predictions for Saturday February 28 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 02/28/2026, 06:30 AM ET

The Syracuse Orange travel to Winston-Salem to face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at LJVM Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:45 PM ET, and the game will be televised on The CW Network. At the time of this writing, the moneyline odds were not released. Wake Forest is listed as a 4.5-point home favorite, and the total is set at 152.5. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more top plays from around the country.

Syracuse Trying to Regain Momentum

The Orange enter this matchup at 15-13 overall and 6-9 in ACC play. Conference competition has been tough, and Syracuse has struggled to string together consistent results. Over their last five games, the Orange recently lost to North Carolina 77-64, Duke 101-64, and Virginia 72-59, while picking up wins over SMU 79-78 and California 107-100 in double overtime. That stretch shows flashes of offensive upside but also major defensive lapses.

Syracuse averages 75.6 points per game while allowing 73.4 points per contest. They shoot a solid 47% from the field and pull down 34.8 rebounds per game. The Orange also contribute 12.9 assists per game, indicating they can move the ball effectively when locked in.

One area where Syracuse stands out is on the defensive end with activity numbers. They average 6.2 blocks and 8.4 steals per game, showing they can disrupt passing lanes and protect the rim. When those defensive plays turn into transition opportunities, Syracuse becomes much more dangerous offensively.

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Wake Forest Looking to Defend Home Court

Wake Forest comes into this contest at 14-14 overall and 5-10 in ACC action. Like Syracuse, consistency has been an issue. In their last five games, the Demon Deacons recently lost to Boston College 68-67 and Virginia Tech 82-63 but secured wins over Clemson 85-77, Stanford 68-63, and Georgia Tech 83-67. They have shown they can compete when their offense finds rhythm.

The Demon Deacons average 78.8 points per game while allowing 76.9. They shoot 45% from the field and grab 33.0 rebounds per contest. Wake Forest also dishes out 14.3 assists per game, reflecting a balanced offensive approach.

Wake Forest’s edge comes from their scoring punch at home. They are comfortable pushing tempo and can stretch opponents with consistent perimeter shooting. If they can limit Syracuse’s second-chance opportunities and force the Orange into half-court sets, they should be in a strong position.

Syracuse Orange vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons Pick

Wake Forest -4.5

Wake Forest at home laying under two possessions is appealing in this matchup. Syracuse has struggled defensively against high-level competition, and their recent losses have been by sizable margins. With Wake Forest averaging nearly 79 points per game, I expect them to capitalize on Syracuse’s inconsistent defense and cover the number.

Syracuse Orange vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons Total Pick

Over 152.5

I’m going with the over in this ACC matchup. Both teams have defensive issues, and Wake Forest games have trended toward higher scores due to their pace. Syracuse can score in transition, and if this becomes an up-and-down contest, both teams should contribute enough to push this total past the posted number.

Final Score Prediction: Wake Forest 81, Syracuse 74

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