Miami heads into Week 3 of the 2026 season as the favorite on the road against Wake Forest, according to odds released by FanDuel Sportsbook.
The Hurricanes have looked every bit like a national title contender early, and the buzz around this group is built on the same thing that showed up in their latest blowout: firepower. Miami hung 77 points and a program-record 856 yards of offense on FAMU last week, and now turns that attack loose again Friday night in Winston Salem.
At the center of it all is quarterback Darian Mensah, with Malachi Toney giving the Canes another elite weapon at receiver. Miami’s offense is not just explosive through the air, either. The run game has plenty of talent of its own and, by the source’s account, is starting to come together too.
The defense brings its own edge. Miami is fast and physical on that side of the ball, even if the secondary is dealing with some thin spots because several starters and rotation players are out.
Those absences helped the Hurricanes reshuffle things against FAMU with Wake Forest in mind, especially against a spread attack like the Demon Deacons’ passing game. The expectation is that Miami rolls out the same starting look in the secondary, with Safety Bryce Fitzgerald moving outside to Cornerback and true freshman J.J.
Dunning starting at Safety next to Zechariah Poyser.
Wake Forest enters at 2-0 and 0-0 in the ACC after a comeback win at Purdue in Week 2 and a season-opening victory over Akron. Friday’s matchup is its conference opener.
The spread is a hefty one, but not a surprising one. Miami is loaded, rolling, and viewed as a national championship favorite. Wake Forest, a middle-of-the-pack ACC team, will be at home, but the Demon Deacons are going to need to play well above what they’ve shown so far just to stay within the number.
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For the Hurricanes, the challenge is not just the setting but how to handle it. Miami is dealing with key absences and uneven recent performances, which puts even more on quarterback Mensah as he tries to navigate a difficult environment and keep the offense steady. Rivalry games often reward the team that stays composed longest, and this one carries enough baggage already that every possession figures to matter long before anyone worries about the final score. [Read more 🡒]