OLE MISS AT WAKE FOREST

Wake Forest’s new Deacon Tower will play host to its first game

9/6/08

Wake Forest -7.5 over Mississippi -  The Wake Forest Demon Deacons manhandled the Baylor Bears last Thursday night in their opening game of the season. Riley Skinner's 72 percent completion rate led the nation last season and he coolly shredded the Bears, going 27 of 36 for 220 yards with a pair of touchdown passes to Chip Brinkman and another to Ben Wooster. He also earned his 19th career victory, a school record for a quarterback.

Defensively, Wake Forest forced five turnovers, turning three into touchdowns, and held Baylor to 250 total yards.

Mississippi’s quarterback Snead's debut was solid, though not particularly sharp as he completed 10 of 22 passes for 185 yards. He made few mistakes, but overthrew several receivers in his first action since 2006 when he played in a handful of games for Texas before sitting out last season under NCAA transfer rules.

And Nutt appears to have made a difference for the Southeastern Conference's last-place defense. The Rebels intercepted two passes, setting up two field goals by Joshua Shene, and held Memphis in check except for a late 43-yard touchdown pass from Will Hudgens to Maurice Jones and a 1-yard scoring dive by Hudgens once the game was out of hand.

Wake Forest will host Ole Miss on Saturday, Sept. 6, in the Deacs’ 2008 home opener. The Rebels will be looking for revenge after the Deacons picked up a 27-3 win in Oxford in 2006. Wake Forest’s new Deacon Tower will also play host to its first game since construction was completed in early August.

True both clubs won their first matchup of the season, but one of them definitely overachieved using their overwhelming emotions and the other got their victory in a businesslike fashion. Henceforth, in this contest one team will come down to reality as the other team will sustain their focus on each play.

The Demon Deacons have concentrated on the fundamentals of “their” game and boy did it show in their first in every department especially their kicking game. They held their opposition to a yard in punt returns, while they were plus 15. It is not just their offense and defense that are superior.

Meanwhile, Mississippi’s defense looked no where near as solid as everyone seems to think. They allowed Memphis to roll up 453 yards in 84 plays. Imagine what Wake Forest’s dynamic offense will do?

Wake Forest will put its five-game home winning streak on the line this weekend. The Deacons dropped their home opener in 2007 to Nebraska, 20-17, and then won five straight. Wake has won nine of its last 12 at home and 11 of its last 15.

WAKE FOREST is 1-0 against the spread versus OLE MISS since 1992   Wake Forest -7.5

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