The 2022 Cure Bowl features the 11-2 UTSA Roadrunners against the 11-2 Troy Trojans. Here is the 2022 Cure Bowl Preview.
UTSA Roadrunners (11-2)
The Roadrunners are back-to-back C-USA champions. UTSA has won five FBS games against teams that are bowl-eligible. Both of their losses were to teams that are in bowl games.
UTSA scores 38.7 points per game, which is tied for 11th in the FBS. They pass for 308.6 yards (ranked 12th) and rush for 177.5 yards per game (ranked 50th).
Frank Harris has been a star at quarterback for the Roadrunners. This season, he has passed for 3,865 yards, 31 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 71.1 percent completion. Five receivers have at least 200 receiving yards. The leading receiver is Zakhari Franklin with 86 receptions for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdown. Joshua Cephus has also been productive with 985 yards and six touchdowns. De’Corian Clark has chipped in with 51 receptions for 741 yards and eight touchdowns, but is out for this game with an injury.
Three players have over 500 rushing yards this season for the Roadrunners. Kevorian Barnes leads the way with 713 yards and also has nine touchdowns. Brenden Brady has 699 yards and nine touchdowns, but is injured and will not play. Harris is third on the team in rushing from the quarterback position with 588 yards and nine touchdowns.
The defense allows 26.5 points per game, which ranks 64th in the country. They allow 151.2 rushing yards (ranked 70th) and 253.5 passing yards per game (ranked 100th). Linebacker Jamal Ligon has led the team with 85 total tackles. Trey Moore. has paced the team with six sacks. Clifford Chattman has been great in the secondary with 14 passes defended and four interceptions, while Corey Mayfield Jr. has also played well 12 passes defended and three interceptions.
Troy Trojans (11-2)
Troy has had a great turnaround going from five wins last year to 11 this season. They have defeated six teams who are headed to bowl games. Their two losses, to Ole Miss and Appalachian State, were to teams who are bowl eligible.
The Trojans score 25.7 points per game, which ranks 81st in the country. They pass for 252.8 yards (ranked 47th) and rush for 121.6 yards per game (ranked 106th).
Gunnar Watson has taken over the quarterback position for the Trojans this season. He has passed for 2,705 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 61.9 percent completion. Five different receivers have at least 200 receiving yards this season. Tez Johnson leads the team in receiving yards with 823 and also has four touchdowns catches. RaJae’ Johnson has a team-high six touchdown catches with his 672 receiving yards.
Two running backs carry the load for the Trojans. Kimani Vidal has 1,059 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. DK Billingsley has been a change of pace for Troy with 656 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
Troy has had a stout defense this season, allowing 17.5 points per game, which ranks eight in the FBS. They concede 207.5 passing yards (ranked 38th) and 117.8 rushing yards per game (ranked 22nd). They have one of the best linebackers in America in Carlton Martial, who has 121 total tackles. Defensive end T.J. Jackson leads the team with eight sacks. Cornerback Reddy Steward leads the team with eight passes defended and three interceptions.
Prediction
This is a great offense in UTSA against a good defense in Troy. Harris has been clutch for UTSA throughout his career and can help the Roadrunners win a close game.
UTSA Roadrunners 27 Troy Trojans 21
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