Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons prediction: Charleston Southern's second chances test Wake Forest's soft defensive glass
Two rebuilt rosters open at LJVM Coliseum, and Wake's 18.5-point cushion may depend on whether it can finally end defensive possessions.
Charleston Southern Buccaneers covered the closing spread (Charleston Southern Buccaneers +18.5). The game went under the closing total of 158.5.
| Spread | Wake Forest -18.5 |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 158.5 |
- Wake Forest should control the scoreboard at home, but Charleston Southern's offensive rebounding gives the Buccaneers a way to hang around a big number.
- Lase Olalere on the glass: he averages 11.0 rebounds, and Wake ranks 328th nationally in defensive rebound rate.
- Wake is -18.5 with a 154.5 total, unchanged since the line first appeared; Wake's 59.0% free throw shooting complicates a lopsided cover.
The fight for missed shots
Wake Forest has built a new team almost from scratch, and two games in, the clearest flaw is the one Charleston Southern is built to exploit. The Buccaneers have rebounded 43.3% of their own misses, 36th in Division I. Offensive rebound rate is simply the share of a team's missed shots it gets back. Wake's defensive rebound rate is 61.7%, 328th, so opponents have been living on second shots.
Lase Olalere is the man to watch. The forward is one of the few Buccaneers back from last season, and he is averaging 11.0 rebounds after pulling down 16 against Columbia International. Wake's own offensive rebounding offers little relief at 23.1%, 332nd. Two games is a thin sample, but tonight that number is the one most likely to swing the margin.
Bricks from the perimeter
Charleston Southern's second chances matter because its first shots keep missing. The Buccaneers are making 22.6% of their threes, 347th nationally, and Jefferson McLamb and Nicholas Errica have combined for a rough start from deep. Wake's perimeter defense has been generous, allowing opponents to make 36.0% from three, so the Buccaneers will get looks.
Inside, it is a different story. Opponents are making just 40.2% of their twos against Wake, 58th, and Gavin Placide anchors that with 2.5 blocks per game. Wake isn't shooting it either, at 26.5% from three. Justin Ray, a 42% three-point shooter at Monmouth last season, is the likeliest fix for that.
Strangers in both huddles
Wake returns only 4.5% of last season's minutes, and Charleston Southern returns 19.3%. That makes last season's ratings a weak guide, even though they had Wake well ahead.
The new leading men are clear. Kevair Kennedy, who averaged 18.4 points at Merrimack last season, scored 20 at Vanderbilt and is running Wake's offense. For the Buccaneers, Anthony Ruffolo carries a 30.2% usage rate, meaning nearly a third of possessions end with him, and he posted 31 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in the win over Columbia International.
Availability looks cleaner than it did in October. Jamari McDowell's plantar fasciitis flared in the Georgetown exhibition, and Steve Forbes expected him to miss a couple of weeks, but he has played in both regular-season games. Center Antonio Dorn missed that exhibition and was reported available in mid-October; there has been no newer update.
Where the number sits
Wake is favored by 18.5 with a total of 154.5, and neither has moved since the line first appeared this morning. Wake has failed to cover both games: an 83-62 win over Maryland Eastern Shore as a 32.5-point favorite, then a 74-51 loss at Vanderbilt. Charleston Southern lost 98-71 at South Florida as a 21.5-point underdog.
Free throws are the hidden drag on a big Wake margin. The Deacons are making 59.0% at the line, 333rd, though the Buccaneers rarely foul, with an opponent free throw rate that ranks 6th. Wake has gone 74-17 at home since 2021, and a four-game homestand starts tonight.
Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons line movement and odds
| Book | Buccaneers ML | Deacons ML | Buccaneers spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | +1150 | -3000 | +18.5 (-105) | o158.5 (-110) |
| BetRivers | +1200 | -5000 | +18.5 (-108) | o158.5 (-115) |
| DraftKings | +1800 | -5000 | +18.5 (-108) | o158.5 (-108) |
| ESPN BET | +1800 | -6000 | +18.5 (-115) | o158.5 (-110) |
| Fanatics | +1800 | -4000 | +18.5 (-110) | o158.5 (-110) |
| FanDuel | +1400 | -4000 | +18.5 (-106) | o157.5 (-115) |
| Hard Rock Bet | +1200 | -3000 | +18.5 (-105) | o158.5 (-115) |
| Caesars | +1550 | -4500 | +18.5 (-110) | o158.5 (-110) |
Where the money is on Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons
On the Kalshi moneyline: Charleston Southern Buccaneers: 44% of bets, 4% of the money; Wake Forest Demon Deacons: 56% of bets, 96% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Wake Forest Demon Deacons -19.5: 66% of bets, 94% of the money; Charleston Southern Buccaneers +19.5: 35% of bets, 6% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 157.5: 29% of bets, 83% of the money; Under 157.5: 71% of bets, 17% of the money.
Key players
- Anthony Ruffolo (Charleston Southern): Averaging 19.0 points and 5.5 assists with a 30.2% usage rate.
- Lase Olalere (Charleston Southern): Averaging 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks, with 16 boards against Columbia International.
- DJ Hubbard (Charleston Southern): Averaging 13.0 points with a 60.5% effective field goal percentage.
- Kevair Kennedy (Wake Forest): The Merrimack transfer averages 17.0 points and scored 20 at Vanderbilt.
- Gavin Placide (Wake Forest): Averaging 15.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.
- Justin Ray (Wake Forest): Made 42% of his threes at Monmouth last season and is 2-of-6 from deep so far.
Numbers that matter
| CSU offensive rebound rate | 43.3% | Ranks 36th nationally and is the Buccaneers' clearest edge. |
|---|---|---|
| Wake defensive rebound rate | 61.7% | Ranks 328th, leaving second chances on the table. |
| CSU 3-point percentage | 22.6% | Ranks 347th, which is why the offensive glass matters so much. |
| Wake free throw percentage | 59.0% | Ranks 333rd and can slow a late push to cover a big spread. |
| Spread | -18.5 | Wake's line has not moved since it first appeared. |
Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons: quick answers
What was the final score of Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons?
Charleston Southern Buccaneers 64, Wake Forest Demon Deacons 82 (final). Charleston Southern Buccaneers covered the closing spread (Charleston Southern Buccaneers +18.5). The game went under the closing total of 158.5.
Who is favored in Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons?
Wake Forest is favored by 18.5 points (Wake Forest -18.5).
What is the over/under for Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons?
The total is 158.5 points.
When is Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons?
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.
Has the line moved for Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons?
Yes: Charleston Southern Buccaneers opened +16.5 and is now +18.5, and the total moved from 155.5 to 158.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).
Where is the money on Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons?
On the Kalshi moneyline: Charleston Southern Buccaneers: 44% of bets, 4% of the money; Wake Forest Demon Deacons: 56% of bets, 96% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Wake Forest Demon Deacons -19.5: 66% of bets, 94% of the money; Charleston Southern Buccaneers +19.5: 35% of bets, 6% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 157.5: 29% of bets, 83% of the money; Under 157.5: 71% of bets, 17% of the money.