For the first time ever, the Missouri Tigers will meet the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on the gridiron. The power-conference foes take the field in the 2022 Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa Bay, Fla, on Friday evening. Raymond James Stadium hosts the matchup, and Wake Forest is aiming to end on a high note after losing four of the last five games. Missouri won its last two games of the regular season and seeks a bowl win for the first time since the 2014 college football season.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Demon Deacons as 2.5-point favorites. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 59 in the latest Wake Forest vs. Missouri odds. Before making any Missouri vs. Wake Forest picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past six-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $2,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Missouri vs. Wake Forest and just locked in its picks and Gasparilla Bowl 2022 predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college football odds and trends for Wake Forest vs. Missouri:
- Wake Forest vs. Missouri spread: Wake Forest -2.5
- Wake Forest vs. Missouri over/under: 59 points
- Wake Forest vs. Missouri money line: Wake Forest -135, Missouri +115
- WF: The Demon Deacons are 7-5 against the spread this season
- MIZZ: The Tigers are 7-5 against the spread this season
- Wake Forest vs. Missouri picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Wake Forest can cover
Wake Forest leans on its offense, but the defense also has a path to success. The Demon Deacons allowed only 137.2 rushing yards per game during the regular season, with opponents generating only 3.8 yards per carry. Wake Forest has a 60% completion rate allowed, and Missouri ranked in the bottom five of the SEC with 370.9 total yards per game. Missouri also produced only 13 passing touchdowns against nine interceptions in the regular season, and Wake Forest can also lean on its dynamic offense. Wake Forest led the ACC with almost 37 points per game on offense, ranking near the top of the conference in total offense (447.8 yards per game), passing offense (314.6 yards per game), and third down efficiency (46.5%).
Sam Hartman and A.T. Perry form one of the best passing connections in the country. Hartman has the second-most passing touchdowns in FBS over the last two seasons, and Perry is Wake Forest's all-time leader with 28 receiving touchdowns in his career. Additionally, Missouri has been hit relatively hard with attrition before this game. Leading receiver Dominic Lovett entered the transfer portal and recently announced he'll be going to Georgia. Safety Martez Manuel and defensive linemen Isaiah McGuire and DJ Coleman have all opted out.
Why Missouri can cover
Missouri's offense can take advantage of Wake Forest's defensive weaknesses. Missouri quarterback Brady Cook is coming off a 138-yard game on the ground in the regular season finale against Arkansas, and he has more than 2,500 passing yards with a completion rate of more than 65%. Wake Forest has allowed 30 points in five straight games, and the Demon Deacons are giving up 410 total yards per game, second-most in the ACC.
Opponents have 28 passing touchdowns against Wake Forest, most in the conference, and the Demon Deacons only have seven interceptions. Missouri is also excellent on defense, with top-tier marks in total defense (No. 4 in SEC) and sacks (No. 2 in SEC). The Tigers have allowed 17 points or fewer in five different games this season, and Missouri has given up only 15 passing touchdowns in 12 games.
How to make Missouri vs. Wake Forest picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 62 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Wake Forest vs. Missouri? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college football picks, and find out.
