The Temple Owls are 7½-point college football wagering favorites against the FIU Panthers in the 2017 Gasparilla Bowl. This will be Temple’s third straight bowl game. It would be just their first bowl win since 2011. The Owls waited till the 11th hour to become bowl-eligible, with a 43-22 win over Tulsa that improved their record to 6-6. Conversely, the Panthers secure bowl eligibility in early November with a 14-7 win over UTSA.
We hear Florida’s nice this time of year… ☀️
? Gasparilla Bowl
? Tropicana Field
⏰ 8 PMTICKETS: https://t.co/3NIy5Ur77L#theSTANDARD pic.twitter.com/2J2CQUJTBB
— Temple Football (@Temple_FB) December 3, 2017
2017 Gasparilla Bowl
- Date: Thursday, 21st December
- Time: 8:05 PM
- Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Sportsbook sports betting odds:
Temple -7½ (+115) 56 (-110) -270
Florida Intl +7½ (-135) 56 (-110) +230
Win, lose, or draw, Florida International tends to go over
The Panthers will be looking to establish a new school record for most wins in a single season. Senior quarterback Alex McGough has already set a FIU record for most TD passes. Together with his brother redshirt freshman center Shane, Alex has also accomplished something unheard of – at least by head coach Butch Davis. ““No, never — it’s the first time,” Davis said when asked if he had ever seen a brother QB-center tandem in either the college or the NFL. “It’s unique … but it’s kind of cool.” the McGough boys attended Tampa Gaither High in the Tampa/St. Petersburg. “I’m going to be a little nervous,” Alex said. “To be playing in front of my peers, my buddies, my friends … but it will pass, and I’ll get focused and get ready to go.” He will be without his preferred target, senior wide receiver Thomas Owens, though.
The Panthers won big and they lost big. They allowed 89 points in their last two losses of the season, and scored 104 in their last two wins. Therefore, the total went over in all four of those games. Additionally, The Panthers are 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight games after an ATS win and 5-2 against the college football wagering spread in their last seven games overall.
Temple is also in an over streak
Davis went 6-0 against the Owls during his time as University of Miami head coach. However, Temple has been, like another Temple, the holy in one in Jerusalem after the Galilee earthquake of 363, rebuilt. And it has been rebuilt in the likeness of QB Frank Nutile. Nutile started the last five games and has completed 60.5% of his attempts for 1,346 yards and 11 touchdowns, 10 of which occurred in the last four games. “The big thing is we wanted to get that last win for the seniors and make sure they’ll be bowl eligible and to be the all-time winningest class in school history,” head coach Geoff Collins said.
The Owls have also been outscoring opponents at a steady clip. As a result, the total has gone over in their last five games. Also, The Owls are 4-0 ATS in their last four games playing C-USA teams and 9-3 against the college football wagering spread when playing a team with a winning record.