By The Numbers -- Dec. 21

Any bowl game named after a pirate is OK by me, which is why Thursday's Gasparilla Bowl is must-see viewing.

FIU QB Alex McGough

FIU put together a pretty miraculous turnaround, doubling their win total of four in 2016 and cranking up the offensive production from 24 points per game to almost 28. Temple was solid under its own first year year coach, Geoff Collins, and weathered some injury issues to win three of its last four contests -- including an upset over Navy. The Owls have dropped three of their last four bowl games, and it wouldn't be a shock if they come up just a bit short here against a squad that had minimal travel and that has wins over postseason participants Western Kentucky and Marshall.

GASPARILLA BOWL
Temple (6-6) vs. Florida International (8-4)
THE SKINNY
The fact that Florida International is in this -- or any other -- bowl game is pretty remarkable considering it's the first postseason trip since 2011 for the Golden Panthers. FIU is smart and disciplined, led by game manager QB Alex McGough (65 percent completions). FIU moves the chains and keeps the clock rolling, so the Owls D will need to crank it up a bit. Temple got better offensively late in the season thanks to QB Frankie Nutile (10 TDs in the last four contests), so this one has the potential to be a shootout. Temple is in its third straight bowl game, and did a nice job winning late in the year to qualify for the postseason. The Owls have some edge to their pass rush, amassing 32 sacks and a whopping 92 tackles for loss, which is among the top 20 in America. This is typically a pretty close, entertaining game, but the belief here is that FIU coach Butch Davis will have his charges cranked up for what amounts to a home game. There might be many people in the seats, but the ones who do show up should be decidedly in favor of the Golden Panthers.
LAST FIVE RESULTS (ST. PETERSBURG BOWL)
2016 Mississippi State 17, Miami (Ohio) 16
2015 Marshall 16, Connecticut 10
2014 NC State 34, UCF 27
2013 East Carolina 37, Ohio 20
2012 UCF 38, Ball State 17 
Line -- Temple -7; Pick --Florida International 30, Temple 26

2017 BOWL RECORD
SU -- 3-4; ATS -- 3-4