Bowl breakdown: In-state clash highlights Thursday schedule
There are two bowls Thursday. One will be played in front of a sellout crowd at an NFL stadium. The other was put together at the last minute because bowl administrators, conference officials and TV folks realized that there were too many bowl-eligible teams for the allotted slots.
The sold-out game is the Gasparilla Bowl, which is held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. It features two in-state teams — Florida and UCF — whose campuses are both about 100 miles from the stadium.
The Frisco Football Classic is the bowl that sprung up from nowhere, and it matches Miami (Ohio) against North Texas. Will it return next season? Who knows? It’s at Toyota Stadium in the Dallas suburb of Frisco (there already was a bowl at the stadium, meaning both bowls Thursday are at sites with two bowls). In addition, the Frisco Football Classic is played on a grass field. No big deal, right? Well, Miami hasn’t played on the real stuff since a September 4, 2010, loss at Florida.
Frisco Football Classic
Miami (Ohio) vs. North Texas
Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., ESPN (Clay Matvick play-by-play, Rocky Boiman analyst)
Venue: Toyota Stadium, in Frisco, Texas (capacity of 20,500)
On3 bowl ranking: 42nd (of 42)
Team records: Miami 6-6; North Texas 6-6
Records vs. bowl teams: Miami 2-5; North Texas 2-5
All-time bowl records: Miami 7-5; North Texas 2-9
Officiating crew: From the Sun Belt Conference
Key stats: North Texas is third nationally in rushing offense at 246.2 yards per game; in its six wins, UNT has averaged 293.3. Miami is 20th nationally in passing offense, at 282.6 yards per game.
The line: Miami (Ohio) by 2.5
The buzz: This is the second game in three days at this venue; San Diego State beat UTSA on Tuesday in the Frisco Bowl. UNT comes in on a five-game winning streak, including an upset of previously unbeaten UTSA in the regular-season finale. Miami has won four of its past six, and the two losses in that stretch were by a combined three points. Four of the RedHawks’ losses this season have come by five or fewer points. Miami QB Brett Gabbert (Blaine’s younger brother) has thrown 17 TD passes in the past five games, and WR Jack Sorenson has caught five of them. Sorenson is one of the most productive receivers in the nation, with 69 receptions for 1,290 yards and 10 TDs. His average of 107.5 receiving yards per game is eighth nationally. North Texas is all about the run. DeAndre Torrey has rushed for 1,215 yards and 10 TDs, while a trio of freshmen — Ayo Ayedi, Isaiah Johnson and Ikaika Ragsdale — has combined for 1,328 yards and 15 TDs in relief. QB Austin Aune is a running threat as well.
Gasparilla Bowl
Florida vs. UCF
Time/TV: 7 p.m., ESPN (Wes Durham play-by-play, Roddy Jones analyst)
Venue: Raymond James Stadium (capacity of 65,908)
On3 bowl ranking: 29th (of 42)
Team records: Florida 6-6; UCF 8-4
Records vs. bowl teams: Florida 1-6; UCF 3-3
All-time bowl records: Florida 24-22; UCF 5-7
Officiating crew: From the Pac-12
Key stats: Florida has a minus-8 turnover margin, which is 11th-worst nationally. The Gators lead the nation with 18 interceptions thrown, including 13 by starting QB Emory Jones. Jones has announced he will have shoulder surgery and transfer after this game; his backup, Anthony Richardson, already has had minor knee surgery and is unavailable.
The line: Florida by 7
The buzz: While the game is sold out, you wonder if Florida will show up. The Gators’ incentive is a big question. Coach Dan Mullen has been fired, two of UF’s top three or four defenders won’t play (DE Zach Carter opted out, LB Mohamoud Diabate is in the transfer portal) and Richardson is injured. Florida should be able to do some damage on the ground with RBs Dameon Pierce and Malik Davis (a Tampa native playing his final college game about a mile from where he went to high school) as well as Jones, who is the Gators’ leading rusher. UCF could do some damage on the ground, too. Coach Gus Malzahn said Isaiah Bowser, who missed five games with injuries, will play; he’s a physical 230-pounder with a downhill running style. Johnny Richardson, a 5-foot-7, 170-pounder, is a change-of-pace guy, and Auburn transfer Mark-Antony Richards, whom UF recruited in high school, received a heavier workload in the final month. Florida has the better pass offense, but Jones’ inaccuracy makes the Gators’ passing attack an adventure much of the time. This is the third meeting between the teams. Florida has won both, though they haven’t played since 2006.