The Wake Forest Demon Deacons will play the Missouri Tigers on Friday night in the college football Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are 7-5 this season after they lost to Duke by a score of 34-31 in their last game. Wake Forest was out gained by a total of 507-453 and turned the ball over one time in the loss. The Wake Forest offense is averaging 36.8 points per game with 314.6 passing yards per game and 133.2 rushing yards per game. Sam Hartman has thrown for 3,421 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions for the Demon Deacons this season. Justice Ellison has rushed for 643 yards and five touchdowns, while A.T. Perry has caught 70 passes for 980 yards and 11 scores for Wake Forest. The Wake Forest defense is giving up 29.3 points per game and 410 yards per game.
The Missouri Tigers are 6-6 this season after they defeated Arkansas by a score of 29-27 in their last game. Missouri out gained Arkansas by a total of 468-325 and forced two turnovers in the win. The Missouri offense is averaging 25.5 points per game with 212.8 passing yards per game and 158.2 rushing yards per game. Brady Cook has thrown for 2,509 yards, 13 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while also rushing for 547 yards and six touchdowns for the Tigers this season. Cody Schrader has rushed for 691 yards and eight scores, while Barrett Banister (questionable) has caught 37 passes for 408 yards for Missouri. The Missouri defense is allowing 25 points per game and 337.3 yards per game.
Wake Forest is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 December games. The under is 6-2 in Wake Forest’s last 8 games. Missouri is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on grass and 2-12 ATS in their last 14 December games. The under is 4-0 in Missouri’s last 4 neutral site games.
Wake Forest comes into this game after losing four of their last five games, but will face a Missouri team that is missing a lot of players from the regular season. Wake Forest has been able to score points all year, but their defense has continued to let them down. Missouri plays better defense than Wake does, but they have had issues scoring at times this season. I like Wake Forest in this game.