Good Defense Expected in Cure Bowl

The 2016 AutoNation Cure Bowl between the UCF Knights and the Arkansas State Red Wolves will have some stellar defensive play in it. On Saturday when they meet at Camping World Stadium both teams will have the best players from their respective conferences.

Oddsmakers currently have the Knights listed as 4-point favorites versus the Red Wolves, while the game’s total is sitting at 51.

Arkansas State won its last outing, a 36-14 result against Bobcats on December 03. Arkansas State failed to cover in that game as a -26-point favorite. The 50 combined points took the game UNDER the total. Defensive end Ja’Von Rolland-Jones was the Sun Belt Conference’s overall Player of the Year for the Red Wolves. Rolland-Jones tied for the Sun Belt lead in tackles for a loss.  He had 18 1/2 and with 11 1/2 sacks (second). While  just a junior he has already has become the program’s career leader in tackles for loss with 28 1/2.

UCF was a 48-31 loser in its last match on the road against Bulls. They failed to cover the +11.5-point spread as underdogs, while the total score of 79 sent OVER bettors to the payout window. UCF has junior Shaquem Griffin. He is a first-time starter at linebacker after being moved from the secondary. He was named American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He led the league and was 10th in the FBS in sacks with an average of 0.92 per game (11 total). He had 19 tackles for loss along with an interception and six pass breakups.

Cure Bowl Stats and Matchups

UCF:
Team record: 6-6 SU,8-4 ATS
Central Florida is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games
Central Florida is 6-19 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Central Florida’s last 7 games

Arkansas State:
Team record: 7-5 SU,6-6 ATS
Arkansas State is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
Arkansas State is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Arkansas State’s last 5 games

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