Miami (Fla.) vs Wake Forest Picks and Prediction for Friday September 18 2026

The Miami Hurricanes travel to face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Friday, September 18, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET. Miami enters the matchup ranked No. 7 nationally and has opened the season by dominating Stanford 45-6 and Florida A&M 77-7. Wake Forest gets a major early-season measuring stick at home as ACC play takes center stage. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free college football picks for more NCAAF predictions throughout the season.

Miami Has Looked Like a National Contender

Miami could hardly have produced a more convincing start. The Hurricanes opened with a 45-6 victory over Stanford before completely overwhelming Florida A&M 77-7. That gives Miami 122 points scored against only 13 allowed through its opening two games, an enormous margin even after accounting for the level of competition.

The Hurricanes have demonstrated explosiveness through the air while also showing the balance expected from a team with legitimate College Football Playoff aspirations. Miami reached the national championship game last season, and the early returns suggest the Hurricanes haven't suffered the kind of dramatic regression that sometimes follows a deep postseason run.

The biggest question Friday is whether Miami can maintain that dominance in its first true conference road environment of the season. Wake Forest represents a significant step up in difficulty from Florida A&M, and playing in Winston-Salem on a Friday night presents a different challenge. Still, Miami's combination of offensive explosiveness and defensive performance gives the Hurricanes a considerable advantage on paper.

Wake Forest Gets Its Biggest Test Yet

Wake Forest opened its season at home against Akron and now faces a completely different caliber of opponent. The Demon Deacons entered 2026 with momentum following an improved 2025 campaign, but this matchup will provide a much clearer indication of where the program stands against the upper tier of the ACC.

The biggest challenge will be generating enough sustained offense to keep Miami from controlling the game. The Hurricanes have surrendered just 13 points through two games, meaning Wake Forest cannot afford empty possessions, turnovers or repeated three-and-outs. Shortening the game and preventing Miami from generating explosive scoring plays becomes critical.

Home field gives Wake Forest a chance to make this uncomfortable early, particularly if the Demon Deacons can force Miami into longer drives. Over four quarters, however, Miami's depth and offensive ceiling should become increasingly difficult to contain.

Miami (Fla.) vs Wake Forest Picks and Prediction

Pick: Miami -17 or Better

Take Miami if the spread is -17 or better. The Hurricanes have been dominant on both sides of the football, outscoring their first two opponents 122-13. Wake Forest should offer considerably more resistance than Florida A&M, especially at home, but Miami appears to have too many advantages in talent, explosiveness and defensive strength. If the market pushes Miami beyond three touchdowns, the value becomes much less attractive, but anything around -17 gives the Hurricanes enough room to be the preferred side.

Pick: Under 56.5

Take the Under if the total is set at 56.5 or higher. Miami is capable of doing a substantial portion of the scoring itself, but its defense is the more important factor for this wager. The Hurricanes have allowed only 13 points through two games. Wake Forest's best chance to remain competitive is slowing the pace, avoiding explosive plays and turning the game into a possession battle. A Miami victory somewhere around 35-14 fits both the matchup and the Under.

Final Picks: Miami -17 or Better and Under 56.5