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For the second time in three years, the Cure Bowl will produce a top-25 matchup in bowl mania. The eighth annual Cure Bowl will see the champions representing Conference-USA, the UTSA Roadrunners, and the Troy Trojans of the Sun Belt.
When: Friday, December 16th @ 3:00 PM ET
Where: Orlando, Florida
Who: #25 UTSA vs. #24 Troy
Spread & Total: Troy -1.5; Over/Under 54.5
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Tale of the Tape: UTSA Roadrunners
The roadrunners lined up their non-conference schedule with in-state foes Houston and Texas, both ranked matchups at the time. Despite falling to both, this set up UTSA for a strong Conference-USA conference play. UTSA finished conference play a perfect 8-0 with an average margin of victory of 16.1 PPG. A rematch against North Texas, one of four teams to keep it a one possession game, was in store for the Conference-USA championship. The Roadrunners held serve again, this time winning 48-27.
Transfer Portal Departures: N/A
Players to Know: WR Zakhari Franklin
The best receiver to ever play for the Roadrunners. 8th nationally in receptions (86), 12th in receiving yards (1,100) and 3rd in touchdowns (14). Holds school records in receptions (254), receiving yards (3,312) and touchdowns (36). Named to first-team All-Conference USA
QB Frank Harris
Named Conference-USA most valuable player. Finished 6th in the country with 3,865 passing yards and 9th in passing touchdowns with 31. Career leader in UTSA passing yards, completion percentage, passing touchdowns and touchdowns. Also ranks 4th on all-time for UTSA rushing yards and 2nd in touchdowns.
Tale of the Tape: Troy Trojans
Jon Sumrall inherited a Troy program with three-straight five-win seasons under Chip Lindsay. The turnaround came almost overnight. Sumrall ramped up the non-conference schedule with a ranked matchup against Ole Miss for the opener. A tough Sun Belt schedule started with a loss against Appalachian State on a hail mary to end the game. But that was the only blemish on the resume, as the Trojans won nine-straight to close the regular season and win the Sun Belt West. They proved their conference dominance in the championship game, running away with the title against Coastal Carolina 45-26.
Transfer Portal Departures: N/A
Player to Know: LB Carlton Martial
An undersized linebacker at just 5’9″, Martial was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. He is also a Burlsworth Trophy Finalist, given annually to the most outstanding FBS player who began their career as a walk-on. Martial has accumulated 551 total tackles over his five-year college career, including 121 this year. He has six career interceptions.
CB Reddy Steward
5th on the team in total tackles (56) and leads the team with three interceptions. The junior has five total interceptions for his career, including two for touchdowns.
Bowl Game Trends:
- The favorite is just 3-4 SU in Cure Bowl history, covering just twice.
- Spreads of a field goal or less, the favorite is 2-0 ATS; over a field goal, the favorite is 0-5 ATS.
- UTSA became a FBS program in 2012. This will be their 4th bowl appearance (0-3; 0-2 with Jeff Traylor)
Game Synopsis:
This is one of the shortest spreads this bowl season, and for good reason: it feels like these teams compliment each other very well. UTSA is strong offensively, specifically through the air. Troy is sound defensively, averaging just one passing touchdown surrendered per contest. Both teams wrecked havoc in their conference play. And both are looking to find the win column in bowl season; Troy’s last bowl appearance came in 2018, while UTSA looks for their first ever bowl win.
The key number for UTSA is 30: they’ve hit this number in 12 of 13, with the only failure coming in their loss to Texas. Troy has only allowed 30 once this season, a 32-28 loss to Appalachian State. Gunnar Watson has 10 interceptions (17th most) on just 312 attempts. I believe this core of Traylor, Franklin and Harris finally get over the hump and get their first bowl win in school history.
Bowl Mania Pick To Win: Troy
Bowl Mania Confidence: 1/43
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