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Wake Forest wide receiver Carlos Hernandez.
Wake Forest Athletics via Imagn Images
The Duke’s Mayo Bowl pairs an ACC team seeking to cap off a resurgent season with an SEC program using a free postseason opportunity as a springboard for future growth.
This is the second-ever meeting between Mississippi State and Wake Forest.
The Bulldogs land in Charlotte at 5-7 after earning a bowl bid via Academic Progress Rate and seeking to build a foundation under Jeff Lebby following a season of flashes across tough sledding in the SEC.
The Demon Deacons, 8-4, saw significant improvement in Jake Dickert’s first season at the helm and finished the campaign with three wins in their final four.
Wake’s 49-32 loss to Duke in the finale masked its offensive upside. QB Robby Ashford threw 342 yards and three touchdowns, prolonging his productivity that keeps Wake competitive even without star running back Demond Claiborne, who opted out of Friday’s festivities.
It’s a significant blow to Wake’s ground attack, but it opens the door for Ty Clark III, who still provides enough baseline efficiency to keep the offense from turning one-dimensional. He logged 4 yards per carry and three scores in the limited action he got.
The Demon Deacons’ depth paid dividends down the stretch. Wideout Sawyer Racanelli posted a 123-yard statline in the final game — he finished fifth in receiving amongst the roster.
Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) stiff arms Mississippi cornerback Jaylon Braxton (2) as he runs for 22-yard touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Nov. 28, 2025, in Starkville, Miss. APIt’s not the sexiest offense, however, it should still see its chances against a defense that couldn’t generate stops or limit successful plays. This only led to late-game breakdowns against the powers of the SEC.
It’s Wake’s defensive prowess that makes taking the points compelling. The Deacons consistently disrupt opponents and force long-yardage situations, ranking No. 23 overall in yards per game allowed with 322.
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Even with lineman Mateen Ibirogba hitting the transfer portal, this is still a unit that can control this game, particularly against an offense that struggles with staying on schedule and finds itself in longer third downs. Mississippi State’s season-long woes in closing drives and protecting the backfield can only be magnified since Wake thrives on negative plays.
The Bulldogs eroded with seven losses in their last eight games after a 4-0 start. QB Kamario Taylor demonstrated flashes, including an electric showing in the Egg Bowl, but he’s still young and making a high-leverage start behind a team that routinely stalls on early downs.
I’m sticking with the steadier team that has more motivation.
THE PLAY: Wake Forest +3 (-105, BetMGM)
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Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.
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