MIAMI- Temple is a seven point favorite over FIU going into the Gasparilla Bowl.

FIU won its eighth game of the season against UMass 63-45, tying the 2011 team for the most wins in an FIU season. FIU emerged this year as contender in conference USA after finishing (8-4) Overall, (5-3 CUSA) to claim second place in CUSA east.

The panthers are proud to be in a bowl game but they want to finish the mission after such a great season in Conference USA. “We’re very excited to be headed to the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl,” said FIU head coach Butch Davis. “Our guys have worked really hard this year, and I’m proud that we’ll end this season in a bowl.”

Sophomore Running back Shawndarrius Phillips is mission oriented going into the Gasparilla Bowl as FIU looks to lay the foundation for future panthers. “We’re trying to do something that’s never been done here. We’re rying to set a trend here and build off of that success.”

Temple, which won three of its final four games, including a season-ending 43-22 road win over Tulsa. Temple ended it’s regular season with a record of (6-6) Overall, (4-4 American) is making its first bowl trip to St. Petersburg.

Temples head coach Geoff Collins will be in familiar territory as he returns to Florida for the Gasparilla Bowl. Collins was the defensive coordinator at Florida in 2016. He served as FIU’s defensive coordinator in 2010 and was also a defensive coach for UCF in 2009 when the Knights played Rutgers in the 2009 bowl game in St. Petersburg.

Collins is looking forward to finishing the season on a high note as he returns to Florida. “We are very excited to participate in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl and we are certainly looking forward to spending time in St. Petersburg to see all it has to offer,” said Collins.

The Temple owls have a 65% chance of winning the Gasparilla Bowl according to ESPN’s matchup predictor. FIU will look to put the odds in their favor.

Story notes, interviews, and comments provided by Gasparilla Bowl media.