The No. 22 UTSA Roadrunners (11-2) battle the No. 24 Troy Trojans (11-2) in the Cure Bowl on Friday. Kickoff from Exploria Stadium in Orlando is set for 3 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the UTSA vs. Troy odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
Rankings courtesy of AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
The Trojans crushed Coastal Carolina 45-26 in their final game of the season, taking a 31-7 lead into the half and easily covering as 6.5-point favorites. Troy finished No. 1 in the Sun Belt and ended the season 10-3 against the spread (ATS), covering its last 3 in a row. Troy’s strength is its defense, ranking top 40 in opponents’ total yards (324.9), passing yards (207.4), and rushing yards (117.5).
UTSA dismantled North Texas 48-27, covering as 8-point home favorites, and ended its season atop Conference USA. It was just 7-6 ATS though. UTSA was 5-1 straight up on the road. Its strength is in its attack, ranking top 15 in total yards (486.2) and passing yards (308.6).
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Troy vs. UTSA odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 1:46 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Troy -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | UTSA +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Troy -1 (-112) | UTSA +1 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 56 (O: -109 | U: -111)
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Troy vs. UTSA picks and predictions
Prediction
UTSA 34, Troy 28
Moneyline
BET UTSA (+100).
Troy’s defense is what sets them apart, but starting QB Gunner Watson has been far too turnover prone to back the Trojans. He has 13 TDs and 10 INTs thise season.
Also, the weaker part of the Trojans’ defense is their pass game, and that’s where UTSA will look to exploit. QB Frank Harris has 31 TDs and 7 INTs. He has been intercepted just once in his last 5 games.
Couple that with UTSA being 5-1 on the road to Troy’s 4-2 road mark and I would back the team less likely to turn the ball over here.
Against the spread
PASS.
I’d back UTSA outright here. Only 1 game between both teams, a 10-9 win for Troy over Army, finished within a single point. Take the favorite on the moneyline.
Over/Under
LEAN OVER 56 (-109).
UTSA is 8-5 O/U this season. Its offense has scored at least 30 points in every game this season aside from a 41-20 loss to Texas on Sept. 17. It has scored 40 or more in 4 of its last 5. The total is 3-2 O/U in its last 5 games as well.
The Troy offense is clicking as well. Despite being just 6-7 O/U this season, it has gone Over in its last 3 in a row. Troy has scored 46.5 points per game over its last 2 games and has scored 30 or more in 3 in a row.
Both offenses are clicking, and in a bowl game in warm weather, back the OVER 56 (-109).
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