Commercial content 21+.
Get the free Action Network app for expert picks, live odds, bet tracking and more.
A Friday afternoon college football game between No. 23 Troy and No. 22 UTSA in Orlando, Fla. may not jump off the page at you, but for bowl-season enthusiasts there’s a lot to love about the 2022 Cure Bowl, which takes place at 3:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
First of all, these are two of the best Group of 5 teams in the nation. UTSA (11-2) finished atop Conference USA with an 8-0 record and pasted North Texas in the C-USA Championship. Troy (11-2), went 7-1 in the Sun Belt and beat Coastal Carolina, 45-26, in the championship.
Troy vs. UTSA (3:00 p.m. ET, ESPN) prediction: UTSA money line (+105, BetMGM)
- Check out more of the Best Sportsbook Promo Codes
This is a rarity for an early bowl game. It features two Top-25 teams coming off conference titles.
And the cherry on top is that the betting market is having a really tough time separating Troy and UTSA. At the time of writing, Troy is a 1.5-point favorite.
For UTSA, everything begins and ends with quarterback Frank Harris. The redshirt senior has been superb this season and has the offense ranked 11th in points per game and third in passing success rate.
Betting on College Football?
- Check out the best College Football betting sites
- Read our expert’s guide on how to bet on College Football
- Get the latest College Football National Championship winner odds
Troy’s defense should provide a stout test for Harris and UTSA, but the Trojans offense leaves a lot to be desired, even against a mediocre defense.
Troy’s offense ranks 101st in rushing success rate, 58th in passing success rate and 96th in finishing drives, meaning that if the Trojans fall behind they could have a lot of issues keeping up with this explosive Roadrunners team.
UTSA’s offense should be the difference on Friday afternoon.
Troy vs. UTSA (3:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)pick: UTSA money line (+105, BetMGM)
