CHARLESTON SOUTHERN BUCCANEERS @ WAKE

Wake Forest owns the series

The Deacons are 4-0 all-time against Charleston Southern, with all four wins in Winston-Salem; in 2023, Charleston Southern led at halftime before Wake pulled away.

Two lead creators to watch

Anthony Ruffolo paces Charleston Southern at 19 points per game, while Kevair Kennedy leads Wake Forest at 17 points and four assists per game.

Frontcourt rebounding matchup

Wake freshman Gavin Placide averages 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, while Lase Olalere grabbed 16 boards in Charleston Southern’s win over Columbia International.

Buccaneers’ perimeter touch is still developing

Charleston Southern went 7-for-30 from three against Columbia International, including 1-for-13 in the first half.

No confirmed availability changes in preview

Wake Forest’s official preview mentions no injuries, availability concerns, or lineup changes for either team; check for updates near tipoff.

Pick Ideas

Angles drawn from the matchup analysis above and refreshed as the news changes. They are a separate read from the LineCrush pick for this matchup, so the two can land on different sides.

Wake Forest -16.5: lean, not a lock

Wake -16.5 is a cautious lean, but the sizable spread and Charleston Southern’s different levels of opposition keep it from being a lock.

Under 155.5: slight lean

Wake’s first two games totaled 145 and 125 points, supporting a modest under 155.5 lean, though Charleston Southern’s 71-point showing against Columbia International tempers the case.

Pass on the heavily priced moneyline

At roughly -2500, Wake’s moneyline implies about a 96% win probability, so the spread is more practical than the heavily priced favorite.