Temple at FIU Gasparilla Bowl Picks and Predictions 12/21/2017
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Tropicana Field
Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game
The Temple Owls travel to Tropicana Field to take on the FIU Golden Panthers on Thursday, December 21, 2017. The opening line for this game has Temple as 8 point favorites. The Owls have an ATS record of 6-6-0 while their over/under record is 6-6-0. The Golden Panthers have an over/under record of 7-4-1 and they are 6-6-0 against the spread.
Valuable Temple Owls Betting Trends
The Temple Owls are 6-6-0 against the over/under
The Temple Owls are 6-6-0 against the spread
Important FIU Golden Panthers Betting Trends
The FIU Golden Panthers are 7-4-1 against the over/under
The FIU Golden Panthers are 6-6-0 against the spread
Key Temple Owls Injuries
12/03/17 LB Isaiah Graham-Mobley Undisclosed is "?" Thursday vs Florida Intl
12/03/17 QB Logan Marchi Lower Body is "?" Thursday vs Florida Intl
12/03/17 WR Ventell Bryant Leg is "?" Thursday vs Florida Intl
11/10/17 LB Chapelle Russell Knee is out for season
10/06/17 K Austin Jones Knee out indefinitely
10/06/17 DB Cequan Jefferson Rest out indefinitely
10/01/17 RB Jager Gardner Leg out indefinitely
Key FIU Golden Panthers Injuries
12/04/17 G Neal Mars Undisclosed is out for season
12/04/17 WR Thomas Owens Knee is downgraded to doubtful Thursday vs Temple
08/23/17 RB Anthony Jones Knee is out indefinitely
Useful Offensive Statistics
The Temple Owls are 94th in Division 1 in points scored with 298. They have run 845 plays this season for 4,651 yards, which ranks them 46th in the nation in total offense. The Owls average 5.5 yards per play, which is 84th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 244 1st downs this year, placing them 75th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Temple has run for 1,632 yards as a team, which ranks 99th in the country. They've run 420 times, averaging 3.9 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Owls have been penalized on offense 91 times for 816 yards so far this season, which has them 15th in the nation in penalties. Frank Nutile has thrown for 1,346 yards this season. He has completed 104 passes on 171 attempts for a completion percentage of 60.8%. His quarterback rating this year is 140. He averages 7.9 yards per pass attempt and 7.3 adjusted yards per throw.
Defensive Statistics
Temple is 72nd in the nation in points allowed on defense with 332. They have surrendered a total of 4,706 yards on D, which is 61st in Division 1. The Owls are ranked 65th in yards per play allowed with 5.6. Opposing offenses have completed 204 passes on 353 attempts against the Temple Owls defense this season, placing them 43rd and 41st in the country. The Temple pass defense has also given up a total of 2,520 yards through the air, which is 42nd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has allowed 490 attempts for 2,186 yards this year, putting them in 82nd place in D-1 against the run. The Owls have committed 86 penalties for 760 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 106th in the nation.
Special Teams Stats
Temple is ranked 35th in the nation in punt returns with 22. They've accumulated 168 punt return yards and average 8 yards per return, which is 57th in college football. They have returned 47 kicks for 1,046 yards on special teams, ranking 7th in kick return yardage. The Owls average 22 yards per kick return and they are 50th in the country in all-purpose yards with 5,866. The Temple Owls have attempted 28 field goals this season and made 19, which is 17th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 68%. Temple Owls kickers have made 91% of their extra points, going 29 for 32 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,094 yards on 53 punts, averaging 40 yards per punt. That places them 106th in Division 1 in punting average.
Useful Offensive Statistics
The Golden Panthers have run for 1,981 yards as a team, which ranks 65th in the nation. They've run 454 times, averaging 4.4 yards per rush as a unit. The Golden Panthers have been penalized on offense 78 times for 785 yards so far this year, which has them 45th in the country in penalties. They are 73rd in Division 1 in points scored with 330. They have run 816 plays this year for 4,843 yards, which ranks them 59th in the nation in total offense. The FIU Golden Panthers average 5.9 yards per play, which is 50th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 250 1st downs this season, ranking them 64th overall as an offensive unit. Alex McGough has completed 211 throws while attempting 329 passes for a completion percentage of 64.1%. He has passed for 2,496 yards this year. He averages 7.5 adjusted yards per throw and 7.6 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating this season is 137.6.
Defensive Statistics
The FIU Golden Panthers rush defense has given up 437 attempts for 2,095 yards this season, putting them in 75th place in the country against the run. They have had 60 penalties for 514 yards on defense this year. That places them 23rd in Division 1. FIU is 80th in college football in points surrendered on defense with 342. They have given up a total of 5,008 yards on D, which is 80th in the nation. The Golden Panthers are 94th in yards per play allowed with 6.1. Opponent offenses have completed 256 throws on 390 attempts against the FIU defense this season, ranking them 113th and 84th in the country. The FIU Golden Panthers pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,914 yards in the air, which is 88th overall in total pass defense.
Special Teams Stats
The FIU Golden Panthers have tried 16 field goals this year and made 14, which is 61st in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 88%. FIU kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 40 for 40 this season. Their punters have accumulated 2,088 yards on 50 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That ranks them 66th in the NCAA in punting average. FIU is 113th in the country in punt returns with 10. They've totaled 46 punt return yards and average 4.5 yards per return, which is 112th in D-1. They have returned 32 kicks for 610 yards on special teams, which puts them 95th in kick return yardage. The Golden Panthers average 19 yards per kick return and they are 80th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 5,498.
Who will win tonight's Owls/Golden Panthers college football game against the spread?
Josh's Pick: Take the Owls -8
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