Wake Forest vs Missouri Gasparilla Bowl Odds, Spread and Picks
- Wake Forest and Missouri will meet in the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa, Florida on Friday, December 23
- Wake Forest is a 1.5-point favorite in the first meeting between the two programs
- Read below for Wake Forest vs Missouri odds, analysis and prediction
Wake Forest (7-5) is a slight 1.5-point favorite in the Gasparilla Bowl at 6:30 ET Friday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The Demon Deacons are making their seventh consecutive bowl appearance and have won four of their last six.
Missouri (6-6) beat New Mexico State and Arkansas in its final two games to gain bowl eligibility for the seventh time in nine seasons. The Tigers have not won a bowl game since 2014.
Let’s dive into the Wake Forest vs Missouri odds and find the best bet for the Gasparilla Bowl.
Wake Forest vs Missouri Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake Forest Demon Deacons | -1.5 (-108) | -111 | Over 59.5 (-106) |
| Missouri Tigers | +1.5 (-112) | -108 | Under 59.5 (-114) |
Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook on Dec. 20.
Wake Forest is a 1.5-point favorite over Missouri in the Gasparilla Bowl in the first meeting between the schools. Both teams are 7-5 ATS this season, but they got there in different ways. The Demon Deacons are 1-4 SU and ATS in their last five, starting with a blowout loss at Louisville on Oct.29. Missouri is 4-2 SU and 3-3 ATS
Missouri is 5–2 ATS as an underdog and Wake Forest is 5–5 as a favorite. The total has gone under in seven of Wake’s 12 games. Missouri has gone under the total eight times, although it’s last four have gone over.
Wake Forest in a Rut
Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman had the defending ACC Atlantic Division champ Demon Deacons in the thick of the race again after throwing for 234 and two touchdowns in a 31-21 victory over eventual division winner Florida State on Oct. 1. The Deacons won their next two and got to No. 10 the AP Top 25 before things turned south. Their only victory in the last five weeks was against Syracuse, and they lost to all three in-state rivals despite being favored in all three.
Most TDs by a QB-WR combo in ACC history:
Torry Holt & Jamie Barnette, 28
Sammy Watkins & Tajh Boyd, 27
AT Perry & Sam Hartman, 27
Tee Higgins & Trevor Lawrence, 25
Nuk Hopkins & Tajh Boyd, 24
Calvin Johnson & Reggie Ball, 24(h/t @ESPNStatsInfo & @Les_Johns)
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) December 15, 2022
Hartman had eight 300-yard games and completed 63 percent of his passes for 3,421 yards, 35 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, but eight of those picks in the last five games. Defense has been an issue. The Deacons have scored 36.8 points per game but are giving up 29.2. Each of the last four opponents has scored at least 30 points, and Duke came away with a 34-31 victory in the regular-season finale on a 20-yard touchdown pass with just more than two minutes remaining.
Wake Forest will play the bowl game without running back Christian Turner and defensive end Jacourey Johns, although neither seems a big loss. Turner (516 yards) was second on the team in rushing to starter Justice Ellison (635 yards). Hartman’s top target is A.T. Perry, who has 70 catches for 980 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Missouri On a Roll
The Tigers qualified for the postseason by beating Arkansas 29-27 in the final game of the regular season, when multi-tasking quarterback Brady Cook accounted for 380 yards total offense and two touchdowns — he threw for 242 yards and one score and rushed for 138 yards and another. Sophomore Cook passed for 2,504 yards and 13 touchdowns and five interceptions and rushed for 547 yards and six scores in his first season as the starter. His first career start came in a 24-22 loss to Army in the 2021 Armed Forces Bowl.
BIG time sack. #MIZ🐯 pic.twitter.com/EsnqHEg745
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) November 25, 2022
Cook will be without his favorite wide receiver, Dominic Lovett, who entered the transfer portal after being named first-team All-SEC after 56 receptions for 846 yards and three touchdowns. Multi-purpose Luther Burden had 38 catches for 329 yards and five touchdowns and also had two rushing touchdowns and scored on a punt return.
The Tigers played No. 1 Georgia to a four-point loss on Oct. 1 and are eliminating opponents to 25 points and 337 yards per game. Key starters Isaiah McGuire, D.J. Coleman and Martez Manuel have opted out of this game after declaring for the 2023 NFL draft.
Wake Forest vs Missouri Prediction
Coaches Dave Clawson and Eli Drinkwitz know each other from Drinkwitz’s time as North Carolina State’s offensive coordinator from 2016-18, so there is a small bit of history both teams can use.
Hartman not been his usual self during the Deacons’ slump, but he is capable of big things. Without three of its top defenders, Missouri may find that too much to overcome. Wake has won four of its last six bowl games and should continue that run.
- Pick: Wake Forest -1.5 (-108)
- Season CFB: 47-47 ATS
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Jack has covered college and professional sports for various Arizona media outlets since the 1980s and has written for the Associated Press, USA Today and Baseball America, among others. He staffed the 2015-17 World Series and has staffed four Super Bowls.
