Point spread for FSU-Wake is lowest since end of Bowden era

After an 0-2 start, including a disappointing 27-21 home loss to N.C. State on Saturday, Florida State now travels this weekend to face a Wake Forest team it has struggled against each of the past two seasons.

And the sports betting community does not have a great deal of confidence in the 'Noles.

For the first time in Jimbo Fisher's eight-year tenure as head coach, FSU could be a single-digit favorite when it takes the field against the Demon Deacons on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

The Seminoles opened up as a 9.5- to 10-point favorite over Wake on Sunday evening, but bettors quickly pushed that line down to 7.5 with early action on the Demon Deacons. One offshore sportsbook even had the line down to 7 as of Monday morning.

Five Takes: Defense comes up short, and season on life support

Either of those numbers would be the lowest odds for a Florida State victory against Wake Forest since the final seasons of Bobby Bowden's tenure. The Seminoles were a five-point favorite against the Deacons in 2009 and a four-point favorite in 2008.

Part of the reason for the low spread is the fact that the Seminoles are off to an 0-2 start for the first time since 1989, they lost their starting quarterback to a season-ending knee injury and the defense has not played up to expectations.

Another factor is Wake's solid start to the 2017 season; the Deacons are 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the ACC. Wake has a 51-7 win over Presbyterian, a 34-10 win over Boston College on the road, a 46-10 win over Utah State and a 20-19 win over Appalachian State on the road.

And perhaps the final major reason is the recent trend of close games in the series. FSU was favored by 23.5 points against Wake last season but only recorded a 17-6 victory. One year earlier, the 'Noles were an 18-point favorite but won by eight.

Before that, the Seminoles recorded three consecutive blowout victories in the series. FSU is 6-1 against Wake Forest under Fisher, with five straight wins dating back to 2012.

Here's a look at the point spreads and results for the FSU-Wake Forest games during the Fisher era:

FSU-Wake Forest 2010-2017

* -- Point spread as of Monday morning

Year - Site	Point spread	Winner, score	Cover?

2017-Winston-Salem, N.C.	FSU -7.5*	TBA	TBA
2016-Tallahassee	FSU -23.5	FSU, 17-6	No
2015-Winston-Salem, N.C.	FSU -18	FSU, 24-16	No
2014-Tallahassee	FSU -37.5	FSU, 43-3	Yes
2013-Winston-Salem, N.C.	FSU -34	FSU, 59-3	Yes
2012-Tallahassee	FSU -28	FSU, 52-0	Yes
2011-Winston-Salem, N.C.	FSU -10	Wake, 35-30	No
2010-Tallahassee	FSU -20	FSU, 31-0	Yes

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