Duke's Mayo Bowl Roundup and Game Predictions: Wisconsin vs. Wake Forest

Wisconsin goes from playing a noted rival for the 130th time in Minnesota 11 days ago to taking on a first-time, non-conference opponent on Wednesday.

UW (3-3) and Wake Forest (4-4 overall, 3-4 ACC) have never faced off in college football before, but this mid-week matchup will change that when Duke's Mayo Bowl commences at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

The Demon Deacons have only played two total games between the months of November and December thanks to cancellations and schedule modifications during this 2020 season, but they showcase an intriguing offense that will pose a unique challenge. Can the Badgers impose their strength at the line of scrimmage to assert control early on and throughout the contest?

Here's how to catch all the action from North Carolina, along with BadgerBlitz.com's coverage leading up to the bowl game and our staff's predictions.

Who: Wisconsin Badgers vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

When: Wednesday, Dec. 30, 11 a.m. CT

Where: Bank of America Stadium; Charlotte, N.C.

TV: ESPN; Taylor Zarzour on play-by-play, Matt Stinchcomb as the analyst, and Marty Smith serving as the sideline reporter.

Where to stream the game: ESPN app or ESPN.com/watch

Radio: Badger Sports Network with Matt Lepay on play-by-play and Mike Lucas as analyst

Stream Radio: Sirius 137, XM 207

Current line: -9.5 to -10 Wisconsin (according to the Action Network, updated at 9 a.m. CT on Wednesday)

All-Time series: First ever meeting between the two programs

*Worgull: Wisconsin to Face Wake Forest in the Duke's Mayo Bowl

*Kocorowski: Duke's Mayo Bowl preview: A quick look at Wake Forest

*Worgull: Reliable Receiver Jack Dunn Keeps Grinding for Wisconsin

*Worgull: Jim Leonhard Avoiding Coaching Carousel to Lead Wisconsin's Stingy Defense

*Worgull: Notes: Wisconsin Excited for Modified Bowl Experience

*Kocorowski: QB Graham Mertz: 'Yeah, I'll be good to go' for Duke's Mayo Bowl

*Kocorowski: Previewing Wake Forest with Rivals.com's Deacons Illustrated (subscription required)

*Kocorowski: 3-2-1: Badgers hope to end 2020 on the winning side (subscription required)

*Worgull: Five Burning Questions: Wisconsin vs. Wake Forest (subscription required)

*Worgull: All-Out Blitz: Wisconsin vs. Wake Forest

From the Rose Bowl to the Mayo Bowl, how the mighty have fallen. However, the Badgers have approached these postseason opportunities, no matter the stakes, with a level of professionalism and pride under head coach Paul Chryst. I would expect that to continue, especially considering this group spoke throughout the month of December about their desire to play in a bowl game.

Wake Forest’s faster-paced offense is a style that could give a defense fits, but the Badgers have had extra prep time and are a veteran group that has answered every challenge presented to them in 2020. Wake Forest’s defense is not good, which should help Wisconsin carry over some of the positive things it created for itself in the second half against Minnesota.

Both of those things factored in should give Wisconsin a victory to close a bizarre 2020 year.

Wisconsin 28, Wake Forest 17

A mountain of injuries, pauses (both internal and by opponents) and players being out due to COVID-19, on top of it already being one of the weirdest seasons in college football history and the Badgers have clawed their way to a 3-3 record and a spot in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. A far cry from their trip to Pasadena this time last year.

Bowl season brings new, exciting matchups and this one is no different. Unlike the Big Ten offenses Wisconsin is used to seeing, Wake Forest features a high-octane attack. But also unlike the Big Ten, the Demon Deacons don’t field a daunting defense that UW has been accustomed to lining up against in November and December.

Earlier in the week, Chryst mentioned that senior wide receivers Kendric Pryor and Danny Davis “hadn’t done much” during the week but also noted that leading rusher Jalen Berger, who was averaging 5.9 yards per carry before being unavailable the last two games, has practiced. Look for Wisconsin to once again have success on the ground to aid Graham Mertz and, as Ben mentioned, the extra prep will allow defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard to have his unit ready for Wake Forest's high-powered offense.

Wisconsin 23, Wake Forest 17

Like most games, this will be a contest decided by if Wisconsin wins the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

Starting with UW’s offensive line, it helped run over Minnesota with Garrett Groshek finishing with a career day. Wake Forest gives up 191 yards rushing per contest and has allowed at least 185 yards in six of the ACC program’s eight games. If Berger returns, which Chryst noted on Monday that he has practiced, that could allow for more firepower in the backfield. If that happens, will the true freshman be as effective as he was before missing the last two games?

Before leaving the Minnesota game with an upper body injury, Mertz finally started to get into a productive rhythm. Can the redshirt freshman find that once again, especially if Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor don’t play again?

On the flip side, how will Wisconsin’s defense adapt to seeing the up-tempo Wake Forest offense that averages 37 points and 435 yards per game? If UW can lock down that respective ground game, tallying just under 170 yards per outing, perhaps it can slow redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Hartman and the passing attack through pressure. The Demon Deacons have given up 26 sacks in eight games.

That said, I think Wisconsin gets its ground game rolling to success. Leonhard’s defense gives up some plays to a unique Wake Forest offense, but they bottle up the rushing attack of the Demon Deacons enough and contain its passing attack.

Wisconsin 24, Wake Forest 17