The Owls qualified for the postseason by winning three of their last four games thanks in large part to a switch at the quarterback position.
Former AAC champion Temple finds itself in a less glamorous bowl game this year after a disappointing regular season. Florida International looks to improve on a program-best, eight-win season by winning in just its third bowl appearance in school history.
Temple vs. Florida International Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 9 Dec 7:26pm | TEM | -7.5 -110 | O +56 -110 |
| Closing 22 Dec 12:48am | TEM | -7 -105 | O +57.5 -110 |
The Golden Panthers are in a familiar position as underdogs in this game. FIU was chalk in only two of its 12 games and still finished the year with an 8-4 record and 6-6 mark against the spread. The Golden Panthers won 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS at home – and while this game is a neutral site at the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FIU fans only have to travel a little over 200 miles to see the Panthers in person.
The Owls started the year 0-4 against the number but went 6-2 ATS over their final eight games to finish the year 6-6 SU and ATS. Temple were smoked by the Notre Dame, South Florida and Central Florida and its best win was against a 6-6 Navy side.
More than 60 percent of Sports Interaction bettors are backing FIU to cover as a 7-point underdog while 54 percent expect the game to play over the 56.5-point total.
Temple Owls
Junior Frank Nutile doesn’t have the same arm strength or footspeed of former starter Logan Marchi, but he proved to be a more accurate distributor of the football. Nutile completed nearly 61 percent of his passes while averaging 7.9 yards per attempt.
Temple’s chief offensive threat is receiver Isaiah Wright who led the team in receptions with 41 and occasionally returned kicks and punts for his team as well. Nutile and Wright should have some chances to connect on the field against FIU. The Golden Panthers finished the year ranked 93rd in the nation in pass defence.
Florida International Golden Panthers
The Golden Panthers made major improvements in Butch Davis’ first year as head coach. Davis – known for his bigger gigs with Miami, UNC and the Cleveland Browns – will have to devise a game plan to make up for the production of Thomas Owens.
Owens, FIU’s top target in the passing game, missed the final two regular season games and will not play in the bowl game because of a knee injury.
Injuries
Ventell Bryant (WR)
Brian Carter (OL)
Ryquell Armstead (RB)
Isaiah Graham-Mobley (LB)
Leon Johnson (OL)
Derrek Thomas (DB)
Chapelle Russell (LB)
Quincy Roche (DL)
Jullian Taylor (DL)
Michael Dogbe (DL)
Alex McGough (QB)
Neal Mars (G)
Julian Williams (WR)
Thomas Owens (WR)
Anthony Jones (RB)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ventell Bryant (WR) | Ques Thurs | Leg - 21 / 11 / 17 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Bryant missed the last game with a leg injury and it is unclear if he will play in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl against Florida International. |
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| Brian Carter (OL) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 21 / 11 / 17 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Carter suffered an injury to an unknown location and his availability against Tulsa on Saturday is in question. |
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| Ryquell Armstead (RB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 12 / 11 / 17 | 2-1 | 3-0 | + - |
|
Armstead is nursing an undefined injury and it is unknown if he will suit up Saturday against UCF. |
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| Isaiah Graham-Mobley (LB) | Ques Thurs | Undisclosed - 12 / 11 / 17 | 2-1 | 3-0 | + - |
|
Graham-Mobley is dealing with an undisclosed issue and did not play in the last two games. His status is unknown for the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl against Florida International. |
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| Leon Johnson (OL) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 11 / 11 / 17 | 2-1 | 3-0 | + - |
|
Johnson hurt his ankle, leaving his availability against UCF on Saturday up in the air. |
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| Derrek Thomas (DB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 11 / 11 / 17 | 2-1 | 3-0 | + - |
|
Thomas has an unspecified injury and his status is unclear against UCF on Saturday. |
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| Chapelle Russell (LB) | out for season | Knee - 10 / 11 / 17 | 4-2 | 5-1 | + - |
|
Russell will miss the rest of the season due to a torn ACL. |
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| Quincy Roche (DL) | Ques Fri | Undisclosed - 01 / 11 / 17 | 4-2 | 5-1 | + - |
|
Roche missed the last game due to an unspecified injury and his status is unknown for Friday's game against Cincinnati. |
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| Jullian Taylor (DL) | Ques Fri | Undisclosed - 01 / 11 / 17 | 4-2 | 5-1 | + - |
|
Taylor sat out the previous game with an undisclosed injury and his availability against Cincinnati on Friday is unknown. |
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| Michael Dogbe (DL) | Ques Fri | Undisclosed - 29 / 10 / 17 | 4-2 | 5-1 | + - |
|
Dogbe was held out of the last game with an undefined injury and it is undetermined if he will suit up against Cincinnati on Friday. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex McGough (QB) | day-to-day | Collarbone - 21 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
McGough sustained a broken collarbone and will not return to Thursday's game. |
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| Neal Mars (G) | out for season | Undisclosed - 04 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Mars is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to an unspecified injury. |
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| Julian Williams (WR) | Out indefinitely | Undisclosed - 24 / 11 / 17 | 2-1 | 3-0 | + - |
|
Williams is bothered by an unspecified injury and will miss an unknown length of time. |
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| Thomas Owens (WR) | out for season | Knee - 19 / 11 / 17 | 2-1 | 3-0 | + - |
|
Owens has missed the last two games with a knee injury and will not play in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl against Temple. |
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| Anthony Jones (RB) | Out indefinitely | Knee - 23 / 08 / 17 | - | - | + - |
|
Jones will miss an undetermined amount of time after suffering a knee injury. |
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Gasparilla Bowl Prediction
-
OWLS
38 -
GOLDEN PANTHERS
34
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 9 Dec 7:26pm TEM -7.5 -110 O +56 -110 Closing 22 Dec 12:48am TEM -7 -105 O +57.5 -110 -
Injuries
Ventell Bryant (WR)
Ques Thurs Leg - 21 / 11 / 17Brian Carter (OL)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 21 / 11 / 17Ryquell Armstead (RB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 12 / 11 / 17Isaiah Graham-Mobley (LB)
Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 12 / 11 / 17Leon Johnson (OL)
Ques Sat Ankle - 11 / 11 / 17Derrek Thomas (DB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 11 / 11 / 17Chapelle Russell (LB)
out for season Knee - 10 / 11 / 17Quincy Roche (DL)
Ques Fri Undisclosed - 01 / 11 / 17Jullian Taylor (DL)
Ques Fri Undisclosed - 01 / 11 / 17Michael Dogbe (DL)
Ques Fri Undisclosed - 29 / 10 / 17Alex McGough (QB)
day-to-day Collarbone - 21 / 12 / 17Neal Mars (G)
out for season Undisclosed - 04 / 12 / 17Julian Williams (WR)
Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 24 / 11 / 17Thomas Owens (WR)
out for season Knee - 19 / 11 / 17Anthony Jones (RB)
Out indefinitely Knee - 23 / 08 / 17Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Ventell Bryant (WR) Ques Thurs Leg - 21 / 11 / 17 1-1 2-0 + - Bryant missed the last game with a leg injury and it is unclear if he will play in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl against Florida International.
Brian Carter (OL) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 21 / 11 / 17 1-1 2-0 + - Carter suffered an injury to an unknown location and his availability against Tulsa on Saturday is in question.
Ryquell Armstead (RB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 12 / 11 / 17 2-1 3-0 + - Armstead is nursing an undefined injury and it is unknown if he will suit up Saturday against UCF.
Isaiah Graham-Mobley (LB) Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 12 / 11 / 17 2-1 3-0 + - Graham-Mobley is dealing with an undisclosed issue and did not play in the last two games. His status is unknown for the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl against Florida International.
Leon Johnson (OL) Ques Sat Ankle - 11 / 11 / 17 2-1 3-0 + - Johnson hurt his ankle, leaving his availability against UCF on Saturday up in the air.
Derrek Thomas (DB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 11 / 11 / 17 2-1 3-0 + - Thomas has an unspecified injury and his status is unclear against UCF on Saturday.
Chapelle Russell (LB) out for season Knee - 10 / 11 / 17 4-2 5-1 + - Russell will miss the rest of the season due to a torn ACL.
Quincy Roche (DL) Ques Fri Undisclosed - 01 / 11 / 17 4-2 5-1 + - Roche missed the last game due to an unspecified injury and his status is unknown for Friday's game against Cincinnati.
Jullian Taylor (DL) Ques Fri Undisclosed - 01 / 11 / 17 4-2 5-1 + - Taylor sat out the previous game with an undisclosed injury and his availability against Cincinnati on Friday is unknown.
Michael Dogbe (DL) Ques Fri Undisclosed - 29 / 10 / 17 4-2 5-1 + - Dogbe was held out of the last game with an undefined injury and it is undetermined if he will suit up against Cincinnati on Friday.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Alex McGough (QB) day-to-day Collarbone - 21 / 12 / 17 1-0 1-0 + - McGough sustained a broken collarbone and will not return to Thursday's game.
Neal Mars (G) out for season Undisclosed - 04 / 12 / 17 1-0 1-0 + - Mars is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to an unspecified injury.
Julian Williams (WR) Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 24 / 11 / 17 2-1 3-0 + - Williams is bothered by an unspecified injury and will miss an unknown length of time.
Thomas Owens (WR) out for season Knee - 19 / 11 / 17 2-1 3-0 + - Owens has missed the last two games with a knee injury and will not play in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl against Temple.
Anthony Jones (RB) Out indefinitely Knee - 23 / 08 / 17 - - + - Jones will miss an undetermined amount of time after suffering a knee injury.