Power 5 foes meet for the first time in their histories to settle the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa. When all is said and done, will it be the Demon Deacons or the Tigers? Check the Wake Forest vs Missouri predictions below.
Pair of Power Fives
A pair of mid-level Power 5 teams head to Tampa and Raymond James Stadium to tangle in the Gasparilla Bowl. Wake Forest (seven-5) and Missouri (6-6) will contest one of the two NCAAF games on the NCAAF schedule two days before Christmas under the Florida sun.
Wake Forest isn’t exactly surging into the game, having lost four of its last 5 SU. Missouri, on the other hand, won its last two, including a 29-27 win over Arkansas to reach .500 and qualify for the postseason for the third time in as many seasons under coach Eliah Drinkwitz.
WFU quarterback Sam Hartman, who famously declared last month that there’s “no shot” he returns to Winston-Salem for the 6th year, will make his final appearance for the Demon Deacons.
A player with NFL potential much was expected of Hartman and the Deacs this season. Injuries along the offensive line and to the defense derailed what many deemed to be a season where Wake would challenge Clemson and NC State for ACC Atlantic Division supremacy.
This article will give you all the information, stats, facts, and college football injuries you’ll need to cash on your Wake Forest vs. Missouri predictions.
Wake Forest vs. Missouri
- These teams from the ACC and SEC have yet to meet on the football field. WFU is 10- all-time in bowls, while Missouri is 15-19.
Wake Forest Performance Recap and Analysis
With much fanfare, the Deacons opened 2022, looking not only to make its 7th straight bowl appearance but also to contend for a spot in the BCS and even CFP. Quarterback Sam Hartman, a player mentioned in the Heisman talk before the season, came back for his fourth season under center.
After three straight wins, the Deacons hosted then-No. 5 Clemson in a game filled with hype and expectations. The Tigers emerged victorious 51-45 in double overtime, with Hartman dazzling in front of his home fans, tossing 6 touchdown passes and 337 yards.
After another three wins in a row, Wake was 6-1 and ranked 10 going into a game at Louisville. The Cardinals scored 35 points in the third quarter and, as 2.5-point underdogs, won outright 48-21. That loss was the start of a span that saw WFU go 1-4 to finish the season. When the dust settled, a look at the NCAAF standings shows the Deacons second to last in the ACC Atlantic ahead of just Boston College.
As a team, WFU throws it 58 percent of the time and averages 80.2 plays per game.
Key Injuries
WFU’s second-leading rusher Christian Turner will not play in the game and has entered the transfer portal. Defensive back Gavin Holmes and defensive end Jacorey Johns also will not appear for Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
Betting Trends to Know
- Demon Deacons are 1-4 ATS in the last five games.
- Over is 4-0 in WFU’s last four contests against SEC opposition.
- Under is 5-0 the last five times Demon Deacons have played on natural grass.
Missouri Performance Recap and Analysis
Playing in arguably the best conference in all of college football, not to mention what’s regarded as the more difficult division, Missouri entered the year looking to return to the postseason. Tigers went 2-2 in September with losses to Kansas State and Auburn.
Mizzou’s most impressive performance of the year came in defeat as they fell to top-ranked Georgia 26-22 in Columbia, leading nearly the entire came before the Bulldogs roared back.
Following a loss in the Swamp to Florida, Missouri Tigers went 4-2 the rest of the way to secure a postseason berth, with wins over New Mexico State and the two-point thriller over Arkansas punching their ticket.
Three different Tigers have run for over 400 yards on the year as the team runs it 49 percent of the time while running 72.4 offensive snaps per contest,
Key Injuries
Receiver Dominic Lovett, a key part of the Mizzou offense, threw his name in the transfer portal and will not play in the game. In addition, a trio of standout defensive players (D.J. Coleman, Martez Manuel, and Isaiah McGuire) all have opted out of the game to prepare for the upcoming NFL draft.
Betting Trends to Know
- Mizzou is 5-1 ATS in the last as an underdog.
- As an underdog, the Tigers are 4-0 against the numbers.
- Under is 4-0 in the last four Missouri games contested at neutral sites.
Wake Forest vs. Missouri Odds
At the present time, Wake Forest is a 1-point favorite, and the game total is 58.5. Given how close the spread is, it comes as no surprise to those who follow NCAAF odds that both teams are “minus” on the moneyline, with the Tigers being at -104 and the Demon Deacons being priced at -117.
Wake Forest vs. Missouri Betting Picks
- Moneyline
This is the epitome of a toss-up game. To us, it comes down to Missouri missing more players than the Deacons and the fact that Wake figures to have a larger contingent of fans in Tampa. To that end, as part of our college football expert picks, we’re taking WFU on the moneyline.
- Over-Under
Playing in his final game in the black and gold of Wake Forest, we expect Hartman to put up some points against a Missouri defense that allows 25.0 points per game. While checking Wake Forest Demon Deacons odds, this total is just the third time in 2022 that the number has been under 60. As part of our Wake Forest vs. Missouri predictions, we’re going over.
- Spread
Neither side has been especially dominant against the spread, and given the fact that the line is set at 1 point, the ability to cover is somewhat null and void here. We feel comfortable taking the Demon Deacons and laying the one point.
Wake Forest vs. Missouri Score Prediction
After much consideration, the last of our Wake Forest vs. Missouri predictions has WFU prevailing 38-31.
NCAAF Pick: Wake Forest 38, Missouri 31
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