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Temple-Florida International Gasparilla Bowl preview: Can the Owls finally win a bowl game?

Temple seems serious about snapping its two-game bowl losing streak. The Owls are facing FIU for the first time in program history.

Florida International quarterback Alex McGough has played under center for all four years of his college career.
Florida International quarterback Alex McGough has played under center for all four years of his college career.Read moreJohn Raoux/AP
    by Marc Narducci | Columnist
    Published 

Temple (6-6) will compete in a bowl game for the third consecutive year when the Owls meet Florida International University (8-4) in Thursday's Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. Kickoff is set for just after 8 p.m.

It's the first time the Owls have earned bowl berths in three consecutive years. Temple seems serious about snapping its two-game bowl losing streak. A key will be stopping four-year starting FIU quarterback Alex McGough, whom coach Butch Davis feels is a definite NFL prospect.

Temple has momentum, having won three of its final four games. FIU, which was 4-8 last season, was second in Conference USA. The Panthers ended the regular season with consecutive wins over Western Kentucky and Massachusetts.

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Twitter: @sjnard

Head-to-head: This will be the first game between the two teams.

Temple: Geoff Collins (first season, 6-6)
Florida International: Butch Davis (first year, 8-4; 87-47 overall)

Temple

— QB Frank Nutile, 6-4, 225, R-Jr.: 60.8 completion percentage for 1,346 yards, 11 TDs, 7 interceptions
— RB Ryquell Armstead, 5-11, 205, Jr.: 553 yards rushing, 3.9 avg., 4 TDs
— WR Isaiah Wright, 6-2, 212, So.: 41 receptions, 591 yards, 3 TDs; 13 KO returns, 24.9 avg., 1 TD
— DE Sharif Finch, 6-4 250 Sr.: 51 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss 7.5 sacks)
— S Delvon Randall, 6-1, 220, Jr.: 76 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1st-team all-AAC)
— S Sean Chandler, 6-0, 195, Sr. (74 tackles, 2 INT).

Florida International

— RB Alex Gardner, 5-10, 195, Sr.: 765 yards rushing, 4.5 avg., 6 TDs
— QB Alex McGough, 6-3, 218, Sr.: 65.5 completion percentage, 2,791 yards, 17 TDs, 8 INT, 214 yards rushing, 2.8 avg., 5 TDs
— WR Thomas Owens, 6-1, 240, Sr.: 59 receptions, 887 yards, 6 TDs, 1st-team all-conference
— OG Joran Budwig, 6-4, 311, Sr.: 2nd-team all-conference
— DL Fermin Silva, 6-2, 235, Jr.: 45 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 7 sacks
— LB Anthony Wint, 6-0, 230, Jr.: 81 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss