Tulane vs Florida prediction & betting tips - Dec. 20 - Gasparilla Bowl

The Tulane Green Wave plays the Florida Gators on Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET in the Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The game can be seen on ESPN2.

Tulane (9-4) ended its season with back-to-back losses to Memphis and lost to Army in the AAC championship game. Florida (7-5) ended its season on a three-game winning streak with upset wins over LSU and Ole Miss to help get bowl-eligible.

Tulane vs. Florida: Preview

Tulane is a +14 point underdog, while the over/under is set at 49.5 points.

The Green Wave will enter the bowl game missing their starting quarterback. Darian Mensah, who won the starting job, entered the portal, while Kai Horton also entered the portal.

Ty Thompson will start the bowl game, but the signal-caller may also enter the portal after the matchup and is eager to play in the bowl game.

"I'm really, really blessed for this opportunity," Thompson said, via CBS. "I've prayed for this since I was 17 and showed up in college."

Thompson went 6-for-11 for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Tulane is also led by its running back Makhi Hughes, who rushed for 1,372 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Green Wave will rely on their running game in the Gasparilla Bowl.

Florida, meanwhile, doesn't have many key players missing the bowl game, as quarterback DJ Lagway will start.

"We talk a lot in terms of, it doesn't matter who the opponent is, where we're playing, what time we're playing, who's available," coach Billy Napier said. "It's kind of become part of our DNA. When they put the ball down and kick the thing off, we'll be ready to go."

The Gators weren't expected to be bowl-eligible, so for them getting to play in this game, Napier said the team is ecstatic.

"Yeah, I mean, I would tell you, man, our guys were excited when we found out we were going to be in Tampa. It was a big deal and to play on the 20th, I mean we'd be lying if we weren't happy with that," Napier said, via 247Sports.

"I think these guys have an opportunity to finish the right way in our state, then be home for Christmas and have a couple weeks off before we get back out in January. So good to be in Tampa. Obviously, Gator Nation will be on full-display, it'll be a great opportunity for our fans to come out."

The Green Wave's offense will struggle here now that they are down to their third-string quarterback.

Meanwhile, Lagway has gotten better in every game he's played in for Florida. The QB will be able to have success against Tulane's defense to get a big win here to win the Gasparilla Bowl.

Prediction: Florida 34, Tulane 17.

Tulane vs. Florida: Betting Tips

Tip 1: Florida -14 (-108)

Tip 2: Over 49.5 (-110)

Tip 3: Florida over 32.5 points (-110)