The 2023 version of the Gasparilla Bowl has Wake Forest vs Missouri in a match-up of teams you generally don\u2019t imagine putting together.<\/p>\n
Gasparilla Bowl<\/strong><\/p>\n Wake Forest (7-5) vs Missouri (6-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n Friday December 23rd<\/sup>; 6:30pm eastern<\/strong><\/p>\n TV: ESPN<\/strong><\/p>\n Raymond James Stadium; Tampa, FL<\/strong><\/p>\n The Tigers finished the season 6-6 overall and 3-5 in the SEC. They never really gained significant momentum for any stretch of the season but did win the last two games of the regular season against New Mexico State and Arkansas.<\/p>\n Like most teams in the day of the new transfer portal window, they are missing a few players for the bowl game. It used to be just those declaring for the NFL, but now coaches also have to deal with players declaring to go play for someone else next season. \u201cWe\u2019re going to be down some players, but everybody\u2019s down players this time of year,\u201d head coach Eliah Drinkwitz<\/strong> said this week. The Tigers will be missing their top pass rushers. Defensive lineman D.J. Coleman<\/a> has declared for the NFL draft and will sit out the game. Linebacker Devin Nicholson<\/strong> has entered the transfer portal.<\/p>\n Missouri will also be without offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan<\/strong> who has left to take the same job at Boise State. But since it has been Drinkwitz\u2019 offense from the beginning, there is no reason to expect any interruption in the scheme. It is managed by quarterback Brady Cook<\/a>. He threw for 2,500 yards and 13 touchdowns against seven interceptions. Among his recent admirers is Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson.<\/strong> \u201cI love their quarterback,\u201d he said this week. \u201cThey do a lot in the quarterback run game with him.\u201d<\/p>\n Even though it is not one of the marquee bowl games, Drinkwitz said his team is excited about going to Tampa. \u201cYou\u2019d like the momentum of the off-season to be about winning the bowl game,\u201d he said this week. \u201cI think for us, this is about this team, this group of guys, who have chosen to move forward together in this game.\u201d<\/p>\n One thing that would make Drinkwitz happy is to have his wardrobe in Tampa. Like every coach in these early bowls, he has had to deal with the opening of the portal window, bowl practice, recruiting, and National Signing Day. That leaves other details to chance. \u201cThere was a bag drop, where you\u2019re supposed to put your bag with the stuff you\u2019re packing, (for the trip to Tampa), and I didn\u2019t get mine done.\u201d We assume the Gasparilla Bowl souvenir shop has plenty of options just in case.<\/p>\n The Demon Deacons finished the season at 7-5 overall and 3-5 in the ACC. It was a tough record to look at considering they were 6-1 at one point in the season and ranked in the top 15 across all major polls.<\/p>\n Head coach Dave Clawson has his roster management issues before the game as well. In fact, in meeting with the media this week he declared roster management to be an impossibility, with the portal, early draft departures, recruiting, and trying to get a team ready for the bowl game.<\/p>\nMissouri Tigers<\/h3>\n
The Offense<\/h3>\n
Wake Forest Demon Deacons<\/h3>\n