NBA Postseason Best Bets (5/17)
Alex Christenson
The college basketball season is less than three weeks away, and here at FTN Bets we have you covered for what promises to be another thrilling year of upsets and incredible finishes. I will be taking you around the country with a betting preview of the major conferences. I recap the betting trends from last season, list projected starters, preview the season, identify a key player, and reveal how I’m backing or fading each team.
Let’s continue our preview with the ACC. Always competitive each season, the ACC is regularly among the nation’s top conferences with annual Final Four contenders Duke, Virginia and North Carolina. Last season, Miami made their first ever Final Four, guided by the March magic of head coach Jim Larrañaga. There are 15 teams in the ACC, making it the largest of all the power conferences. The critics continue to cite the weakness of the bottom ACC teams, which directly contributes to its sixth overall preseason ranking by KenPom. However, it still holds true that the top teams in the ACC will always have a chance at a Final Four run.
Let’s continue with our betting preview for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
2023-2024 Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Preview
Conference: ACC
Head Coach: Steve Forbes (4th season)
2022-2023 Record: 19-14 (10-10)
ATS: 17-15-1
O/U: 19-13-1
Projected Starters: PG Kevin “Boopie” Miller, SG Cameron Hildreth, G Damari Monsanto, F Andrew Carr, C Matthew Marsh
Steve Forbes entered his third season after guiding one of the most impressive turnarounds in the country, taking Wake Forest from 6-16 to 25-10 in just his second season. Despite losing over 70% of their minutes from last season, the Demon Deacons were 17-10 overall (9-7 in the ACC) before Damari Monsanto suffered a season-ending torn left patellar tendon against NC State Feb. 22. From that point, Wake Forest finished just 2-3, including season-ending losses to Boston College at home and Syracuse.
Forbes has been fantastic in the transfer portal and secured a trio of superb additions this offseason. Wake Forest added two Gonzaga products in guard Hunter Sallis and center Efton Reid. Since Reid is a second-time transfer, he will need to receive a waiver to play this season. Sallis brings superior defense and athleticism to the Wake Forest backcourt, along with point guard Boopie Miller from Central Michigan. Miller had a great freshman year in the 2021-2022 season, leading the Chippewas with 13.1 ppg and 4.6 apg. Last year, he only played four games due to a broken foot. Forbes has stated he feels this could be the deepest Demon Deacons team in four seasons.
Key Player: Damari Monsanto
Wake Forest will need a healthy Monsanto to compete this season. He is one of the country’s best shooters and followed Forbes from East Tennessee State to Wake Forest after the 2020-2021 season. Monsanto has scorched the nets for over 40% from beyond the arc on over 300 3PAs over the past two seasons. He posted six games of five or more made three-pointers and was certainly on his way for a seventh against NC State (3-of-4 in 17 minutes) before the injury. An 87% free-throw shooter last year, he has first-team All-ACC upside if healthy.
Projection: This team lost two top players in leading-scorer Tyree Appleby and clutch-shooter Daivien Williamson. Forbes did well (as always) in the transfer portal and could see a huge boost if Reid gets that waiver. They would also get a huge boost if former Marist transfer Jao Ituka can provide the impact that was expected last year. Ituka injured his knee in the preseason and redshirted after playing only six games. If Miller’s skills can transfer up to the ACC, there is definitely upside for a top-five finish in conference.
How I’m Betting Wake Forest: I’m intrigued by the Demon Deacons. Forbes is a great coach, especially at home in Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Wake Forest was 3-1 ATS as a home underdog last season, with three outright wins (Duke, Virginia Tech, North Carolina). I will be cautious in the nonconference if Reid doesn’t play but will be targeting them as a home ACC underdog regardless.
