The Gasparilla Bowl features two teams going in opposite directions.

The Florida Gators saved their season with a mid-year turnaround, which included wins over both LSU and Ole Miss. Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway breathed new life into the offense, and the team's defense stepped up late in the year, too.

Meanwhile, Tulane's lost two in a row coming into this one. The bigger issue, though, came when the transfer portal claimed starting QB Darian Mensah, who threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. They'll turn to unproven backup Ty Thompson for this one, which doesn't seem like a recipe for success against a defense that seems to be figuring things out.

I'm not crazy about the 10.5-point spread, but I think there's a chance Florida pulls away early and doesn't let up. Give me the Gators in this one.