Stephen Nover's Thursday Bowl Destroyer
(NCAAF) Temple vs. Florida International (FIU), 12/21/2017 3:00 PM, Score: 28 - 3
Total: 57.00 | -102.00 Under
Result: Loss
You can toss the season statistics out when handicapping this matchup. Both offenses for Temple and Florida International are better than their season numbers. Both offenses have gotten hot down the stretch and I see that continuing in this Gasparilla Bowl to be played in sunny, 75-degree weather in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Temple is coming off a 43-point performance against Tulsa. The Owls' offense picked up after a quarterback switch to Frank Nutile. If you discount their game against Central Florida, the Owls averaged 34.8 points in their last five games once Nutile became the established quarterback.

Florida International closed out its season averaging 52 points during its final two regular season games in victories against Western Kentucky and Massachusetts. The Panthers scored 30 or more points in four of their last six games. They also led the nation in scoring percentage inside the red zone going 39 for 40. Temple has one of the worst red-zone defenses in the country.