Appalachian State Vs Wake Forest Game Preview

Game Time: 3:30 PM EST

Location: Kidd Brewer Stadium, Boone, North Carolina

TV: ESPN3

Radio: Appalachian IMG Sports Network, Wake Forest IMG Sports Network

Betting Line: Wake Forest -4.5

Previous Meeting: Wake Forest won 20-10 in 2001

Series Record: Wake Forest leads all time 14-7

Outlook

Appalachian State gets set for the biggest home game of the 2017 season this Saturday when they take on the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest. Appalachian State is coming off a helluva scare against the Texas State Bobcats last weekend in their Sun Belt opener. Wake forest comes in a hot 3-0 after taking Utah State behind the “woodshed” last Saturday in Winston Salem and winning 46-10.

Appalachian State fell in a early hole to Texas State last Saturday but thanks to the strong running from Terrence Upshaw Appalachian State was able to climb back into the game and stop the Cats one yard short of the end zone to seal the 20-13 victory. Wake Forest’s game with Utah State was never in question, as QB John Wolford went 12/22 passing for 242 yards and 2 scores.

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Wake Forest brings an offense to Boone that has been lighting up the field as the Deacs’ offense is averaging 43.7 points per game. Wake is also averaging 461 yards of offense per game while giving up 273.3 per game. Appalachian State is averaging 28 points per game to go with 395.3 yards of offense while allowing 288.3 yards per game. Wake is a very balanced team as they almost average the same amount of yards rushing as passing. QB John Wolford will be the man App State will have to apply pressure to and force him to make mistakes, something he has not done yet in 2017.

Taylor Lamb will need to be the field general for the Apps in this game and they desperately need Jalin Moore to wake up here against Wake Forest. Moore was held to just 14 yards on nine carries last week against Texas State. The Mountaineers can ill afford Moore to be silent again as they need him now more than ever to be able to pull the upset at home.

Prediction

I predicted an App State upset over Wake Forest in my season preview and I still believe that an App upset is a possibility, but Wake’s offense has looked like a machine through three weeks of play. Appalachian State had this same stage just a season ago with an ACC team coming to Boone and they fell hard to Miami. Appalachian needs their defense to play their best game yet to have a chance.

App has another chance to get over the Power Five hump but I’m afraid the Wake Forest offense is for real and that App could struggle in this game. In two games against FBS opponents App’s offense has been less than stellar. 34,000 Plus will pack Kidd Brewer Stadium on Saturday and the majority (including myself) will hope for an App State victory but I think Wake will have just too much firepower for Appalachian to keep pace.

Wake Forest 34 App 20