In one of the final collegiate gridiron matchups of the bowl season, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8-4) and Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-7) will meet for a Friday night showdown in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. This contest from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte pits an ACC squad that surged late in the season against a struggling SEC representative looking to cap its season on a high note. Before kickoff from Charlotte, you’ll find my Wake Forest vs Mississippi State prediction below.
Our Wake Forest vs Mississippi State Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 3/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Date & Time: Friday, January 2, 2026, 8:00 p.m.
- Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Broadcast: ESPN
Key Storylines
The Demon Deacons concluded their regular season at 8-4, highlighted by notable victories over Virginia and SMU. Wake Forest’s defense was a strength, finishing in the top 25 in many advanced metrics, while its offense struggled to consistently find rhythm. The Demon Deacons ranked in the lower half of FBS in offensive efficiency. The Wake Forest defense will try to lead them to one last win against a Mississippi State team whose quarterback situation could be a major question mark.
Mississippi State enters this bowl game having battled a brutal SEC schedule. The Bulldogs finished 5-7 but made it to bowl season due to bowl opt-outs from programs that got at least six wins. This group enters the Mayo Bowl with a schedule that featured competitive losses to the likes of Tennessee, Texas, and Florida.
Quarterback Play
Robby Ashford is the starting quarterback for Wake Forest. He enters this contest with 2,169 passing yards, 9 touchdown passes, and 7 interceptions. He threw an interception in each of his last two games during the regular season and will try to clean things up in this matchup.
Freshman dual-threat quarterback Kamario Taylor emerged late in the season for Mississippi State, posting a powerful performance in his last start with significant yardage both through the air and on the ground. But he still lacks experience compared to Blake Shapen, which could hold the Bulldogs back, as Shapen is confirmed to not be playing in this game.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Mississippi State won the only meeting between these teams back in 2011.
- Both teams went 8-4 against the spread during the regular season.
- The over hit in 7 of Wake Forest’s 12 games this season.
- Mississippi State went 6-6 in the over/under market this year.
Wake Forest vs Mississippi State Model Projection
Final Thoughts
