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Matchup preview

Wake Forest vs Louisville

Wake Forest visit Louisville in Week 4. The model favors Louisville by 12.1. Win probability, the tale of the tape, and the all-time series, all from real data.

Win probability
23%
77%

Model win probability from SP+ ratings + home-field edge.

The read
Model analysis · September 23 · refreshed weekly

Model and market sit almost on top of each other. SP+ rates Louisville 13.3 (25th) against Wake Forest's 3.6 (63rd), a gap of nearly ten points that projects Louisville by 12.1. The consensus line lands at Louisville -12.5 with a 58.5 total, and win probabilities barely separate: the model gives Louisville 77 percent, the market 78 percent, and the ProphetX exchange 81 percent at -435. When SP+, two books, and the exchange converge inside four points of implied probability, the disagreement worth trading is thin.

The unit splits explain the number. Louisville's offense ranks 18th against a Wake Forest defense at 51st, while Wake's 72nd-ranked offense faces a Louisville defense at 40th. Results this season track the ratings: Louisville beat Villanova 59-13 and SMU 41-31 after a 41-38 loss at Ole Miss, while Wake Forest edged Purdue 38-36 and lost to Miami 20-33. The series favors Louisville 6-3, and the last meeting in 2022 went 48-21. Season simulations frame the tiers, projecting Louisville at 7.8 wins and 17.2 percent Playoff odds against Wake Forest's 6.6 wins and 1.1 percent.

Model and market lock together on Louisville by roughly 12, and the ratings gap backs it, leaving little edge on either side.

Matchup odds
Consensus line · 2 books
Spread
LOU -12.5
Total (O/U)
58.5
Favorite
LOU
Moneyline win probability (implied from the spread)

Real consensus line across 2 sportsbooks. Spread and total are the current market number; the win probabilities are implied from the spread.

Matchup odds price history
The market to win this game · daily prices, colored by the favorite
Wake Forest19%-74 ptsvsLouisville81%+74 pts
0%25%50%75%100%Wake Forest favoredLouisville favoredSep 13Sep 16Sep 20Sep 22Sep 23

Real daily prices from the market to win this game, shown as Wake Forest's win price; Louisville's is 100 minus it (the same market's other side). Above the 50% line Wake Forest is favored, below it Louisville is, and each candle takes the favored team's color. Kalshi shows open-high-low-close candles (filled body closed up, hollow closed down). As of Sep 23.

Tale of the tape
Percentile vs FBS · 2025 stats, 2026 SP+
#63SP+SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.#25
#61FPIFPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.#28
1531EloElo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.1749
-Title oddsDe-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.0.8%
Wake ForestLouisvillesolid = better, faded = trailing
What these metrics mean
SP+. SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.
FPI. FPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.
Elo. Elo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.
Title odds. De-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.
Off PPA. PPA (Predicted Points Added): the average point value each play adds. Higher is better for offense, lower for defense.
Success. Success rate: the share of plays that stay on schedule (roughly 50% of needed yards on 1st down, 70% on 2nd, 100% on 3rd/4th). Higher is better.
Explosive. Explosiveness: the average value of a team's successful plays, i.e. how big its good plays are when they hit.
Yards/game. Total yards gained per game.
Success allowed. How often the defense allows an on-schedule play (enough yards for the down). Lower is better.
Havoc. Havoc rate: the share of plays where the defense makes a tackle for loss, forced fumble, interception, or pass breakup.
Yards allowed. Total yards allowed per game. Lower is better.
Efficiency profile
Percentile vs FBS · 2025
Recent series
Louisville lead 6-3
20142022
Head to head
Every meeting in our records
2022
48-21
Louisville
at Louisville
2021
37-34
Wake Forest
at Wake Forest
2020
45-21
Louisville
at Louisville
2019
62-59
Louisville
at Wake Forest
2018
56-35
Wake Forest
at Louisville
2017
42-32
Wake Forest
at Wake Forest
2016
44-12
Louisville
at Louisville
2015
20-19
Louisville
at Wake Forest
2014
20-10
Louisville
at Louisville
More Week 4 matchups
Model previews for the rest of the slate
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I trade the Wake Forest vs Louisville game?

Kalshi lists winner markets for college football games. Sign up with code FADE (trade $25, get up to $500), open the Wake Forest vs Louisville market when it posts, and buy YES on your side; the price in cents equals the market's implied win probability. You can sell before kickoff or settlement at the current price.

When do Wake Forest and Louisville play?

Week 4 of 2026, on Sep 26, 2026 at Louisville.

Who is favored?

The model projects Louisville by 12.1 (77% win probability), from SP+ ratings.

What is the all-time series?

Louisville lead 6-3 over the meetings in our records.

Full schedule → · Both teams' playoff odds, from 10,000 simulations →

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