Bowl Mania: Frisco Bowl

2023 Frisco Bowl

When: Tuesday, December 19th @ 9:00 PM ET

Where: Frisco, Texas

Who: Marshall (6-6) vs. UTSA (8-4)

Spread & Total: UTSA -12.5; O/U 51.5

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Tale of the Take: Marshall Thundering Herd

Another Sun Belt team that made it through the strongest Group of Five conference to make a bowl appearance. The Thundering Herd went 3-0 before starting conference play. After a win over Old Dominion to start 4-0, Marshall struggled in the heart of their schedule. They lost five straight games and six in a seven game period. It took the final week of the regular season to clinch a bowl berth, beating Arkansas State on senior day. Marshall went 4-6 against bowl eligible teams and 4-1 in one possession games.

Offensively, Marshall welcomed back an elite running back for 2023. Rasheen Ali returned from an injured 2022 campaign to top 1,000 yards and record 14 of the team’s 19 rushing touchdowns. Ali handled 52.3% of Marshall’s carries this season. Quarterback play is a concern for the Thundering Herd heading into the bowl game. Starter Cam Fancher is in the transfer portal; Fancher had as many touchdowns (11) as interceptions this season. This leaves backup Cole Pennington as the starter; Pennington is a true freshman who has thrown six interceptions and yet to throw a touchdown.

Defensively, Marshall forced 15 turnovers in the regular season. This gave the Thundering Herd a (-13) in the turnover margin, the worst mark among FBS schools at 131st of 133 teams. Marshall held opposing quarterbacks to a 57.9% completion rate and 6.7 YPA. On the ground, the Thundering Herd allowed 4.4 YPC.

Opt Outs: N/A

Injuries:

TE Cade Conley

Has not played since October 28th against Coastal Carolina. 23 receptions, 215 yards, and a touchdown

S JJ Roberts

Missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury. 73 total tackles (39 solo) ranks 2nd on team. Recorded two interceptions

Transfer Portal Departures:

QB Cam Fancher

Starting QB; 65.6% completion rate, 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on the year. 21 touchdowns and 17 interceptions over the last two years. 

WR Caleb Cooms

Leads the team in receptions (39); 310 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

IOL Trent Holler

Starting LG

QB Chase Harrison

RB Maurice Jones

WR Zion Odoms

TE Sean Sallis

DL Brandon McElroy

DL Elijah Russell

LB Jayven Hall

CB Joshua McTier

Players to Know:

#12 QB Cole Pennington

Expected to get the start with Fancher in the transfer portal. True freshman has completed 62% of his attempts for 5.5 YPA, zero touchdowns, and six interceptions. 

#22 RB Rasheen Ali

2023 All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense. 203 carries (23rd nationally) for 1,043 yards (T-37th) and 14 touchdowns (T-13th). Injured in 2022; recorded 250 carries for 1,401 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2021. 

#55 DL Owen Porter

2023 All-Sun Belt First Team Defense. Five sacks was tied for 2nd most on the team. Recorded 18.5 sacks over the last three years. Forced two fumbles.

#6 DB Micah Abraham

2023 All-Sun Belt First Team Defense. Recorded 13 pass breakups in 2023; 37 pass breakups since 2021. 10 interceptions since 2021; three this season

Preview: Bowl Mania: Famous Toastery Bowl

Tale of the Tape: UTSA Roadrunners

2023 did not start as planned for the Roadrunners. Their nonconference schedule at Houston and Tennessee, and hosting Texas State and Army, led to a 1-3 record heading into conference play. Two of those games was without their leader Frank Harris. But once conference play began and Harris returned, that’s when the Roadrunners shined. They rattled off seven straight conference wins before ultimately falling to a Tulane team yet to lose in conference play. That’s where the run ended, in a 29-16 loss at Tulane. UTSA went 3-2 against bowl eligible teams this year, with both losses coming on the road. All three wins were at home. UTSA went 2-2 in one possession games.

Offensively, UTSA offers an even split between pass (48%) and run (52%). They completed 64.6% of their attempts for 7.2 YPA. UTSA averages 4.4 YPC and 39.6 rush attempts per game. The Roadrunners have converted 47.2% of their 3rd-down conversions (85/180). This ranks 14th in FBS. They also convert 60% on 4th-down attempts (15/25).

Defensively, the Roadrunners hold opponents in check on the ground. They allow just 3.8 YPC and forced 10 fumbles this season. Teams tried to beat the Roadrunners via the pass; their 418 pass attempts defended (34.8/game) was tied for the 13th highest rate in the country. Opposing quarterbacks averaged just 57.2% completion rate and 6.6 YPA. Both marks ranked in the top-30 nationally. The Roadrunners sacked opposing quarterbacks 40 times this year, the 8th-best mark in FBS. However, the key contributor in sacks – Trey Moore – is in the transfer portal and won’t play in the bowl game. UTSA does allow a redzone score on 87.5% of opponent’s trips.

Opt Outs: N/A

Injuries: N/A

Transfer Portal Departures:

DE Trey Moore

2023 American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. 14 sacks ranked 3rd nationally. Recorded 22 sacks over last two years. Three pass breakups, one interception, forced fumble, and fumble recovery.

WR Kyle Eaves

CB Syrus Dumas

CB Xavier Spencer

 

Player to Know:

#0 QB Frank Harris

All-AAC First Team Offense. Three year starter for the Roadrunners. Most prolific quarterback in school history; 66.9% completion percentage, 7.7 YPA, 92 touchdowns, 31 interceptions. 3rd all-time in UTSA history in rushing yards and 2nd in rushing touchdowns (28). 

Update: it has been reported Frank Harris is not expected to play. 

#2 WR Joshua Cephus

All-AAC First Team Offense. School’s all-time leader in receptions (306) and receiving yards (3,553). 27 touchdowns is 2nd all-time behind former teammate Zakhari Franklin (37). 

#18 CB Kam Alexander

All-AAC First Team Defense. 13 pass breakups led the team and ranked tied for 5th nationally. Recorded one interception

Bowl Game Trends:

• 2023 Frisco Bowl: Texas teams are 0-3 in this bowl
• UTSA: 0-4 all-time in bowl games (0-3 under Jeff Traylor)
• Jeff Traylor: 32-4 as a favorite at UTSA; 0-3 on a neutral site
• Marshall: 13-5 in bowl games (1-1 under Charles Huff)

Game Synopsis:

Marshall’s quarterback play with Pennington is a serious concern in the 2023 Frisco Bowl. They will likely rely heavily on Ali to carry the offense. But UTSA has a strong run defense, allowing just six rushing scores in their last eight games. If Ali can’t find the endzone, can Pennington score for the first time this year? Can he multiple times? I’d say no. There is a motivation factor for the veteran Roadrunners, who have yet to secure a bowl win in their school’s history. I think this is their year to go out on top thanks to Frank Harris and Joshua Cephus, along with a strong defense. UTSA wins the 2023 Frisco Bowl for their first bowl win in program history.

Update: with the news Frank Harris is expected to miss the bowl game, we have lowered the UTSA confidence for the bowl game

Bowl Mania Pick To Win: UTSA

Bowl Mania Confidence: 22/43

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