If any team in the ACC will benefit from an easy schedule outside of the conference, it will be the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. In 2005, they began their season with a loss to Vanderbilt and followed it up with a loss at Nebraska. But in 2006, it looks like the way is paved for the Demon Deacons to get off to a 5-0 start. Both Syracuse and Duke at home in the first 2 weeks of the season should be easy wins.
Wake then goes on tour to face the Connecticut Huskies and an Ole Miss team that is as bad as they have been in quite some time. With Liberty back home the following week, Wake Forest will be gearing up for bowl containment as they should be off to a 5-0 start. The challenge for the Demon Deacons will be whether they can win any games at the end of the season. In fact, Wake Forest is 0-8 in games played after Nov. 1 for the past 3 seasons.
It doesn’t look too good for them again this year after November 1, as they have Boston College, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Maryland to finish the season. I think it will take Wake at least 1 in his last 4 games to break his losing streak after November 1. A win at the end of the season and a win at NC State on October 15 will be enough to bring Wake Forest back to a game of bowling for the first time since 2002.
Wake will have more depth than they have had since coach Jim Grobe’s first season, especially up front. The Demon Deacons return 7 offensive linemen who have a total of 84 starts between them. With so much experience up front, they shouldn’t have much trouble making Micah Andrews look like the record Chris Barclay broke last season. Grobe will ask Ben Mauk to handle the offense and Wake can be expected to be more of a possession-oriented offensive team. Mauk started last season No. 1, but his 9 INTs to 3 Touchdowns forced Grobe to bench him. If you can show this season that you have the ability to throw the ball efficiently, it will really open up Wake’s stellar running game, but don’t count on it.
The defense will need a lot of stamina, as a bad passing game could leave them on the field quite a bit this season. I hope they improve a lot though, as the Demons return 8 starters. Linebackers and defensive backs are as solid as anyone in the ACC, but Wake could get hurt down the middle. Hopefully some of the freshmen will be able to step up and give the Demon Deacons some more depth to throw new legs and different looks at the opposing offensive lines.
Expect no more than 2 league wins from Wake Forest, but they’ll be bowling in 2006 anyway.