2025 Gasparilla Bowl Preview

The 2025 Gasparilla Bowl features the 8-4 Memphis Tigers and the 7-5 NC State Wolfpack. Here is the 2025 Gasparilla Bowl Preview.

Memphis Tigers

Memphis won eight games to make their fourth straight bowl game, but they’ve been at least .500 in every year since 2014. Ryan Silverfield has left for the Arkansas job though. They defeated two teams that made bowl games this season: Troy and South Florida. One of their four losses was to a team that didn’t qualify for a bowl game: UAB.

The Tigers score 34.6 points per game, ranking 19th in the country. They pass for 234.6 yards (ranked 59th) and rush for 186.1 yards (ranked 36th) per game. 

Brendon Lewis has been the quarterback for the Tigers this season. He has passed for 2,567 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions on 69.7 percent completion. Five players have at least 200 receiving yards on the season for the Tigers. Cortez Braham Jr. leads the team with 63 catches for 889 yards and eight touchdowns. 

Four players have rushed for at least 250 yards this season for the Tigers. Sutton Smith leads the team with 669 yards and seven touchdowns. Lewis rushed for 618 yards and nine touchdowns from his quarterback position. Greg Desrosiers Jr. and Frank Peasant chipped in with 563 and 254 yards, respectively. 

Defensively, the Tigers give up 22.5 points per game, ranking 47th in the country. They concede 133.4 rushing yards (ranked 44th) and 227.7 passing yards (tied 83rd) per game. Sam Brumfield racked up the tackles with 106 total this season. He also leads the team with 4.6 sacks. Chris Bracy has made plays in the secondary with nine passes defended and one interception. 

NC State Wolfpack

The Wolfpack won seven games to make their fourth straight bowl game, although they have been over .500 every season since 2020. They defeated four teams .500 or above this year: East Carolina, Virginia, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech. One of their losses was to a team who didn’t make a bowl game: Virginia Tech. 

NC State scores 30.2 points per game, tying for 46th in the country. They pass for 247.8 yards (ranked 46th) and rush for 149.1 yards (ranked 78th) per game. 

After playing well last season, CJ Bailey developed further at quarterback this season. He has passed for 2,884 yards, 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions on 69.6 percent completion. Six players have at least 250 receiving yards on the season. Terrell Anderson leads the team with 637 and also had five touchdowns. Justin Joly has been a mismatch at tight end with 47 catches for 468 yards and seven touchdowns. 

Hollywood Smothers has emerged as a star running back for the Wolfpack. He rushed for 939 yards and six touchdowns on the season. Jayden Scott has been the primary backup, who has 487 rushing yards this season. Bailey rushed for 215 yards, while Will Willson put up 145 as the backup quarterback who comes in to run on a semi-frequent basis. 

The Wolfpack defense allows 28.83 points per game, ranking 92nd in the country. They give up 137.9 rushing yards (ranked 49th) and 283.1 passing yards (ranked 132nd) per game.  Caden Fordham has been the leading tackler with 130 on the season. He is tied with Travali Price for the team-high in sacks with 3.5. Devon Marshall showed great ball skills with 14 passes defended and two interceptions. 

Prediction

Memphis is without their head coach and they don’t have the playmakers that NC State does. Hollywood Smothers and Justin Joly are capable of big plays and CJ Bailey will pick apart the Memphis defense.

NC State Wolfpack 35 Memphis Tigers 18

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