UNC vs. Wake Forest Prediction, Game Preview

The North Carolina Tar Heels will host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Wednesday. Below is the UNC vs. Wake Forest prediction and game preview.

UNC vs. Wake Forest Game Preview

Game Broadcast

Date: Wednesday, Jan. 20
Game Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Network: ESPN2

Why You Need To Care

Welcome back to the top two, North Carolina. The No. 2 Tar Heels have steadily climbed their way back up the AP Top 25 with nine straight wins. UNC sits at 16-2 but is 5-0 in ACC play so far.

Roy Williams’ team is coming off a 67-55 win over NC State on Saturday, and now it’ll host Wake Forest for another “Tobacco Road” matchup.

The Demon Deacons are 10-7 under head coach Danny Manning this season, and they’ve started 1-5 in their ACC schedule. Wake Forest has lost five of its last seven games, and it’ll definitely be a tough task to steal one from the Tar Heels in the Dean Dome.

Why UNC Will Win

Kennedy Meeks had just eight points against Syracuse in his return from injury, but he exploded for 23 points on NC State. Brice Johnson will have to stay out of foul trouble, and the two of them will have to establish themselves down low. Joel Berry II will find open shooters and knock down some triples, but Marcus Paige can’t go 0-for-6 from three like he did against the Wolfpack.

Why Wake Forest Will Win

Devin Thomas disappeared in the loss to Syracuse. He went 2-of-6 from the field for 9 points. That’s just not going to get it done. The Demon Deacons are 6-1 this year when he scores 20 points or more. If Thomas puts up another double-digit rebound performance and Mitchell Wilbekin provides some much-needed firepower from behind the arc, Wake Forest might pull out a win on the road.

What’s Going To Happen?

Meeks and Johnson will stay out of foul trouble and make their presence felt in the paint. Paige won’t go for broke with the three ball if he’s shooting as poorly as he was the other night. He’ll penetrate more and find open looks for others. Berry will do his share to score the rock, too. Thomas will hit double figures, but he won’t be able to carry Wake Forest to a win.