Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Mississippi State Bulldogs Betting Pick & Prediction for 1/2

College Football Preview

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl is set for January 2, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. This night game will feature the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Fans can catch all the action on ESPN starting at 8:00 PM.

Wake Forest enters the game with an 8-4 record, showing strength in both home and road games. Mississippi State, with a 5-7 record, will look to leverage their status as the home team. The odds show Mississippi State as the favorite, with a spread of -2.5 points.

Wake Forest Team Preview

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have shown strong offensive capabilities this season. They recorded 322 points, ranking 61st in the nation. Their passing game has been effective with 2787 yards, placing them 60th. The team also rushed for 1934 yards, ranking 70th.

In their recent games, Wake Forest displayed a mix of outcomes. They won against Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens 52-14 and North Carolina Tar Heels 28-12. However, they faced losses against Duke Blue Devils 49-32 and Florida State Seminoles 42-7. Their game against Virginia Cavaliers ended in a 16-9 win.

Wake Forest has some injury concerns going into their next game. Players like Ashaad Williams, Nuer Gatkuoth, and Ian VerSteeg are listed as questionable. Uber Ajongo is out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. These injuries could affect their performance on the field.

Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Wake Forest vs Mississippi State Game Day Info

  • Sport: NCAA Football
  • Teams: Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
  • Venue: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC
  • Date: Friday, January 2, 2026 at 8:00 PM
  • Betting Odds: Wake Forest +113, Mississippi State -136

Mississippi State Team Preview

The Mississippi State Bulldogs have faced a challenging season. They lost their last three games against Ole Miss, Missouri, and Georgia. These games showed areas the team needs to improve, especially in passing defense.

In the recent game against Ole Miss, Mississippi State had 267 rushing yards compared to Ole Miss’s 187. However, they struggled in passing, with only 178 yards against Ole Miss’s 359. The Bulldogs also had two fumbles and one interception, which affected their performance.

Key players for the Bulldogs include Blake Shapen, who has 2,436 passing yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Davon Booth leads the rushing attack with 552 yards and seven touchdowns. Brenen Thompson has been a standout receiver with 948 yards and six touchdowns.

BTB Betting Pick

For the spread pick, take Mississippi State to cover -2.5. They have a stronger offense, ranking 40th in points scored with 366, compared to Wake Forest’s 61st rank with 322 points. Mississippi State also has the advantage in first downs, which could help them control the game better.

For the over/under pick, consider the over 56.5. Both teams have shown they can score, with Mississippi State scoring 366 points and Wake Forest 322 points this season. Additionally, both defenses rank outside the top 80 in points allowed, suggesting a higher-scoring game. The projected score is Mississippi State 31, Wake Forest 28, totaling 59 points.