Free College Football Picks Today: Gasparilla Bowl 2022

The Wake Forest University Demon Deacons (7-5, 2-3 Away) travel to face the University of Missouri Tigers (6-6, 5-2 Home) at Raymond James Stadium on Friday. The Demon Deacons are one-point favorites, and the total is 58.5.

Wake Forest is coming off a tight 34-31 loss against Duke at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 26. Sam Hartman threw for 347 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.

Justice Ellison ran 10 times for 42 yards and a touchdown. Taylor Morin caught six passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.

Missouri beat Arkansas 29-27 at Memorial Stadium at Faurot Field on November 25. Brady Cook was 16 of 26 for 242 yards and a touchdown. He added 138 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Dominic Lovett hauled in six receptions for 130 yards.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Demon Deacons are averaging 36.8 points per game for the season, 17th in FBS, and they are facing a Tigers defense that has surrendered 25.0 PPG (58th). Meanwhile, Missouri has scored 25.5 points a game this season, 82nd in the nation, and Wake Forest is allowing 29.3 PPG (93rd).

The Demon Deacons rank as one of the nation’s top teams in passing yards per game (314.6, 10th), while they are 92nd in rushing yards (133.2). The Tigers are 44th in passing yards allowed per game (209.9) and 34th against the run (127.2).Missouri is 92nd in the country in passing yards per game (212.0) and 63rd in rushing (158.8).

Wake Forest’s defense has been most susceptible through the air, as the Demon Deacons are 116th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (272.8). Against the run, the Demon Deacons are 46th (138.0).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through 11 games, Sam Hartman has thrown for 35 touchdowns (11 INT) and 311.0 yards per game to lead Wake Forest in passing. In five games away from home this season, he has 12 TDs (7 INT) and an average of 309.8 yards passing.

Justice Ellison leads the team in rushing with an average of 53.6 yards a game over 12 games. He has five touchdowns on the ground and one through the air. A.T. Perry is the Demon Deacons’ leading receiver with 81.7 yards a game and 11 TDs.

Brady Cook has 12 passing touchdowns (7 INT) with 208.3 yards per game through 12 games to lead Missouri. Cody Schrader has been the team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 57.5 yards a game through 12 games.

He has eight touchdowns. Dominic Lovett has been a key target in the Tigers’ aerial attack. He has three touchdowns and a 70.5 yard per game average through 12 appearances.