Memphis Tigers vs North Carolina State Wolfpack – NCAAF Preview – Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl – Dec 19, 2025
The 2025 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl will feature the Memphis Tigers taking on the North Carolina State Wolfpack. This game will take place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. Fans can catch the action on ESPN on Friday, December 19, 2025, at 2:30 PM.
Memphis enters the game with an 8-4 record, showing consistency both at home and on the road with identical 4-2 records. Their last postseason appearance was a win against the West Virginia Mountaineers. North Carolina State holds a 7-5 record for the season, with most of their success coming at home. They will look to bounce back after a close postseason loss last year to East Carolina.
Memphis Team Preview
The Memphis Tigers have had a tough season with recent losses. In their latest game, they lost to Navy 28-17. The team struggled with only 18 first downs and managed 172 passing yards.
Memphis faced East Carolina and came up short with a 31-27 loss. They matched East Carolina with 24 first downs but allowed 332 passing yards. Their rushing game showed strength with 240 yards.
The Tigers’ only win in recent games was against Rice, where they won 38-14. The team put up 225 passing yards and 135 rushing yards. Despite some injuries, they showed strength on offense in this game.
North Carolina State Team Preview
The North Carolina State Wolfpack have been strong at home recently. They won against the North Carolina Tar Heels with a score of 42-19. The Wolfpack achieved 27 first downs and tallied 185 rushing yards in that game.
Earlier, the Wolfpack secured a win over Florida State Seminoles with a 21-11 score. They managed to gain 20 first downs. Their defense forced two interceptions from the Seminoles.
Quarterback CJ Bailey has played in 12 games, recording 2,884 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. Running back Hollywood Smothers contributed 939 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns over 11 games. Injuries might affect the team, with several players listed as questionable or out for the next game.
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl Betting Prediction
The Memphis Tigers and North Carolina State Wolfpack have different strengths on offense and defense. Memphis ranks 21st in points scored this season, while North Carolina State sits at 41st. On the defensive side, Memphis allows fewer points than North Carolina State, ranking 90th compared to NC State’s 124th.
Both teams have similar passing yards, with Memphis at 58th and NC State at 48th in rankings. However, Memphis is stronger in rushing, ranking 40th, while NC State ranks 77th. This difference in rushing ability could help Memphis control the game and keep the score close.
The spread is set at Memphis +5.5, which seems reasonable given the stats. Memphis’ higher offensive production and better defensive ranking suggest they can cover. NC State’s struggles on defense may also allow Memphis to keep it close.
- Pick: Memphis +5.5
