2023 Cure Bowl Betting Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Troy Trojans defeated the UTSA Roadrunners 18-12 in the 2022 Cure Bowl.

Check out last year's coverage here below and tune back in with us soon for the 2023 Cure Bowl Odds, Picks and Predictions.

The only bowl game that will pit conference champions against one another is the Cure Bowl. Sun Belt champions Troy will face Conference USA champions UTSA in what could be one of the most competitive games early in the bowl season. Both of these teams are 11-2 and ranked, and the winner will be one of just a handful of 12-win teams in the country. These teams will meet on Friday, December 16, 2022, at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN from Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Troy Trojans vs. UTSA Roadrunners Betting Prediction

We will see a contrast of styles in the Cure Bowl on Friday. The Troy Trojans are led by a defense that ranks 10th in Defensive SP+, and they carry the water for an offense that ranks 101st in Offensive SP+. Meanwhile, the UTSA Roadrunners are ranked 15th in Offensive SP+ but 92nd in Defensive SP+. Given the time to prepare, Troy’s defense should have an edge, but the better bet is on the Under.

Score Prediction: Troy 24, UTSA 20
Best Bet: Under 55.5 (-110)

Troy Trojans vs. UTSA Roadrunners Betting Odds

Troy Trojans vs. UTSA Roadrunners Betting Resources

• Date: Friday, December 16, 2022
• Venue: Lincoln Financial Field
• Location: Orlando, Florida
• Time-TV: 3:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Expert Picks

Troy Trojans Betting Analysis

Gunnar Watson is the starting quarterback for Troy and had a decent season under center. Watson completed 61.9% of his passes for 2,705 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He isn’t a mobile threat, leading to Watson being sacked 32 times, but he has been more reliable than West Virginia transfer Jarret Doege.

The ground game has paced the offense with First Team All-SBC offensive linemen Austin Stidham and Jake Andrews paving the way up front. That led to Kimani Vidal eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark thanks to back-to-back 200-yard games against Louisiana-Monroe and Arkansas State to close out the regular season, and D.K. Billingsley had a lot of success too with 656 yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 4.9 YPC. Tez Johnson and RaJae’ Johnson are the leading receivers on the team as Jabre Barber has missed the last two months with a leg injury.

Troy has arguably the best defense in the Group of Five, so it’s no surprise that the Trojans placed four members of this defense on the First Team All-SBC roster including Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year Carlton Martial. The senior linebacker from Mobile led the team in tackles, and he has recorded at least 100 tackles in four straight seasons.
The Trojans ranked seventh in scoring defense (17.6 PPG) and eighth in yards per play (4.6 YPP). Defensive linemen T.J. Jackson and Will Choloh made this front very difficult to run against and were First Team All-SBC selections, while fellow First Team All-SBC defensive back Reddy Steward led Troy with eight passes defensed and three interceptions.

UTSA Roadrunners Betting Analysis

Frank Harris has been the biggest star for Jeff Traylor during his run with UTSA. Harris has led the Roadrunners to consecutive 11+ win seasons, and he was named Conference USA MVP last week as well as First Team All-CUSA. Harris has announced that he will return for a seventh season in 2023, and he posted his best numbers yet this year. He completed 71.1% of his passes for 3,865 yards (9.0 YPA) with 31 touchdowns and seven interceptions. We saw him showcase his mobility too with 588 rushing yards (4.9 YPC) and nine rushing TDs.

Senior running back Brenden Brady was injured in the regular season finale against UTEP and didn’t play in the Conference USA Championship Game against North Texas. However, his absence wasn’t a big deal as CUSA Freshman of the Year Kevorian Barnes was explosive against the Mean Green. Barnes carried the ball 28 times for 175 yards and a touchdown, and he now leads the Roadrunners in rushing yards on the season.

This passing game was so explosive that receivers Zakhari Franklin, Joshua Cephus, and De’Corian Clark each earned all-conference honors. They combined for 28 touchdown receptions, and Cephus is 15 yards away from eclipsing 1,000 yards alongside Franklin.
UTSA doesn’t have a great defense though. Clifford Chattman and Corey Mayfield Jr. did earn First Team All-CUSA honors, but that was largely due to opponents having to pass while trailing this team. Chattman and Mayfield combined for 26 pass defenses and seven interceptions. They also didn’t have much of a pass rush with just 19 sacks in 13 games despite getting to pin their ears back.

Cure Bowl History

The Cure Bowl began in 2015 and the matchup currently features schools from the Sun Belt and American Athletic Conference (AAC). The game takes place at the Citrus Bowl from Orlando, Florida.

The inaugural Cure Bowl was played Dec. 19, 2015, and San Jose State claimed victory while also covering as a slight favorite in a low-scoring game over Georgia State, a team making their first bowl game appearance since moving up to the FBS level. In their second-ever bowl game, Georgia State made up for their loss in 2015 with a victory over Western Kentucky despite entering as five-point underdogs.

The Sun Belt had lost the past three Cure Bowls, including Georgia Southern falling to Liberty in the 2019 edition as the Flames won their inaugural bowl contest, 23-16, and a Top 10 Coastal Carolina team slipping up against Liberty in a classic in 2020, losing 37-34 in overtime. The Chanticleers rebounded in the 2021 installment with a 47-41 shootout against Northern Illinois, picking up its first-ever bowl victory on Dec. 17, 2021.

For more coverage of bowl season, check out our College Football Bowl Central!