Detroit Mercy Titans vs
Wake Forest Demon DeaconsPredictions & Preview

Detroit Titans to Face Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Early-Season Non-Conference Showdown

On Saturday, the Detroit Titans (3-2) will face off against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-1) in an early-season non-conference basketball matchup at the LJVM Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC. Both teams have high expectations for the season, with Wake Forest being the betting favorite at -24. The game is set to tip-off at 4:00 ET. I will provide a recap of each team's latest game and offer predictions on the side and total for the Detroit vs. Wake Forest matchup.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Titans +1875 | Demon Deacons -7500
• Spread: Titans +24 (-110) | Demon Deacons -24 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 143 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Wake Forest will win straight-up is 99%.

Detroit Mercy vs Wake Forest Stats

Detroit Mercy Titans

Coach Mark Montgomery is in his first season as head coach of the Detroit Mercy Titans men's basketball team, previously serving as an assistant in 2021 and coming over from Michigan State. He inherits a team that struggled last season, only winning one game. However, the Titans have already tripled their win total from last year, starting the season with a 3-2 record with victories over Cleary University, Niagara, and Ball State. The recent win against Ball State was particularly impressive, as Detroit was the underdog by 11.5 points. Orlando Lovejoy led the team with 19 points in the game. In terms of team performance, Detroit has shown strengths in field goal percentage, three-point shooting, and rebounding, but struggle with turnovers. Despite being projected to finish last in the preseason poll, the Titans have shown improvement on both offense and defense this season.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons Analysis

Under the leadership of Steve Forbes, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons have achieved a 76-55 record over the past four years, including a promising 5-1 start to the current season. Last year, the team went 21-14 and made it to the second round of the NIT. The lone loss this season was against Xavier, but the team rebounded with a win against Western Carolina and a notable victory against Michigan. Hunter Sallis has been a standout player, leading the team in scoring. In preseason rankings, Wake Forest is projected to finish third in the ACC, behind Duke and North Carolina. The team's power ranking is 172, with strong offensive and defensive stats. They are performing well in field goal percentages, rebounds, and turnovers. On defense, they are effective at limiting opponents' field goal percentages and rebounds.

Wake Forest's Offensive Concerns Could Make Detroit a Dark Horse Against the Heavily Favored Demon Deacons

Wake Forest is heavily favored against a team with a poor record from last season. However, I have reservations about laying 21.0 points with the Demon Deacons due to concerns about their offense. Wake Forest ranks 112th in adjusted offensive efficiency, scoring 107.9 points per 100 possessions, and their three-point shooting percentage is low at 29.2%. Despite their 5-1 record, Wake Forest has not won any games by more than 15 points. On the other hand, Detroit has shown improvement from the previous season and may prove to be a competitive team. While I am not predicting a championship for the Titans, I believe they have potential to perform well this year. As such, I am willing to take a risk on Detroit covering a 21.0-point spread.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ]