The Wake Forest Demon Deacons take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Nassau, Bahamas, as part of the Baha Mar Championship. Tip-off is set for approximately 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
Texas Tech is favored by -8.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -525. The total is set at 157.5 points.
Here’s my Wake Forest vs. Texas Tech predictions and college basketball picks for November 20, 2025.
Wake Forest vs Texas Tech Prediction
My Pick: Texas Tech -8.5 (Play to -10)
My Wake Forest vs Texas Tech best bet is on the Red Raiders to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Wake Forest vs. Texas Tech Odds
| Wake Forest Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -105 | 157.5 -110o / -110u | +390 |
| Texas Tech Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -115 | 157.5 -110o / -110u | -525 |
- Wake Forest vs Texas Tech spread: Texas Tech -8.5
- Wake Forest vs Texas Tech over/under: 157.5 points
- Wake Forest vs Texas Tech moneyline: Wake Forest +390, Texas Tech -525
Wake Forest vs Texas Tech College Basketball Betting Preview
Wake Forest Basketball
Wake Forest has just one high-major game under its belt this year, nearly stunning Michigan in overtime.
This season's Wake Forest squad rings a strong resemblance to last season's team. The only difference is that Hunter Sallis was the star in 2024-25. In 2025-26, it's Juke Harris. The lengthy sophomore with bounce leads Wake Forest with 21.5 points and seven rebounds per game.
On the flip side, Harris is the only perimeter player on Wake's roster who's performed, with the four transfer guards — Sebastian Akins, Nate Calmese, Myles Colvin and Mekhi Mason — all playing poorly.
In particular, Calmese is tough to figure out. He's shooting a woeful 37% from the field due to his propensity to take tough shots inside. But he's averaging six assists to 1.5 turnovers, so it's tough to bench him.
Akins, meanwhile, is a better pure scorer, but he's less of a playmaker. Meanwhile, Colvin and Mason have been a net negative on offense, as both are shooting below 33% from the field.
The Demon Deacons have to be elite defensively with their offensive hardships. And to their credit, their defense has played that way; they rank 31st nationally in defensive efficiency, while holding teams to 24% shooting from deep.
Holding teams to 24% shooting from deep signals some major regression, though, as no team can maintain that number for an entire season. This could be the game where it stings the Deacs.
Texas Tech Basketball
Texas Tech is 3-1 and lost its only high-major game on the road to Illinois. Though I detest moral victories, JT Toppin's performance in Champaign was a win. He brought Texas Tech back from what looked like a blowout to a game it led in the second half.
That's the Toppin effect, and he's probably liking his chops at this matchup. Wake Forest starts Tre'von Spillers, an undersized center who could struggle to contain the skilled Toppin.
The Demon Deacons allow teams to shoot 57.4% from inside the arc. That should allow Toppin and the burly-built LeJuan Watts to cook at the hoop.
What Toppin also allows for is teams having to decide if it's worth letting him play one-on-one or if they want to double him and leave shooters open. Plus, guard Christian Anderson is an All-American candidate, as he's averaging 19.5 points and 9.0 assists per game this year.
Grant McCasland was known as a defensive-first coach when he came to Lubbock. He's now a completely well-rounded coach, as Texas Tech ranks 10th in offensive efficiency and 25th in defensive efficiency.
The Red Raiders can win games in a shootout or a defensive struggle, and that's the sign of a truly great team.
Wake Forest vs. Texas Tech Betting Analysis
I see a blowout coming. Texas Tech will fire away early and often from downtown and slowly allow Toppin to settle in and dominate.
With Wake Forest being due for defensive regression and with its awful rim defense, it should be a field day for the Red Raiders' efficient offense.
My Pick: Texas Tech -8.5 (Play to -10)
