Birmingham Bowl Odds

The Florida Gators will attempt to sink and devour the East Carolina Pirates on January 3 when the teams meet up in the Birmingham Bowl.

The Pirates recorded their first bowl victory since 2007 last year, defeating Ohio 37-20 as a 14.5-point favorite in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl. The win snapped a three-bowl losing skid for the Pirates and improved them to 2-4 SU and 3-3 ATS in their last six bowl games.

The Gators had a four-bowl winning streak end last season, losing to Louisville 33-23 as a 14.5-point underdog in the Sugar Bowl. Even after failing to cover the spread the Gators are still 5-2 ATS in their last seven bowl games.

For updated lines and totals on all of this year's bowl games head over to the college football betting boards at Sportsbook and Sportsbook today.

Birmingham Bowl
Saturday, January 3 @ 1:00 pm ET
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama

Team: East Carolina Pirates
Conference: AAC
Records: 8-4 SU, 5-7 ATS, 6-6 OU

Team: Florida Gators
Conference: SEC
Records: 6-5 SU, 4-8 ATS, 6-6 OU

Sportsbook Spread / Total (from Sportsbook)
Florida -7 / 57 Points

[ Birmingham Bowl Matchup Stats | East Carolina vs Florida State Betting Preview ]

Birmingham Bowl Betting Trends: Past two Compass Bowls played OVER after six in a row played UNDER . . . Florida is 8-3 ATS past 11 bowl games . . . Pirates 5-1 ATS past two seasons as underdogs.

East Carolina choked in their regular season finale. They were a 6.5-point home favorite versus UCF, but lost 32-30. Following a 6-1 start to the season the Pirates stumbled late with a 2-3 record in their last five games. They were even worse ATS at 1-7 in their last eight games. Even with that dreadful ATS record the Pirates were actually a smart pick for bettors as the underdog this season at 3-0 ATS.

The Gators also dropped their final game of the regular season, a 24-19 defeat at the hands of Florida State. Florida had a strong finish to the season for bettors with a 4-1 ATS record in their last five games. When favored this season the Gators were basically a coin-flip, going 4-2 SU and 3-3 ATS in six games.

------ ARCHIVED ARTICLES | BOWL GAME PREVIEWS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS ------

The Vanderbilt Commodores will make their third straight bowl game appearance when they face the Houston Cougars in the BBVA Compass Bowl. It is the first meeting ever between the two teams. Vandy has a record of 3-2-1 in bowl games. This is the Cougars’ second bowl appearance in three years. Houston is 2-9 SU in its last 11 bowl game appearances.

For updated lines and totals on all of this year's bowl games head over to the college football betting boards at Sportsbook and Sportsbook today.

BBVA Compass Bowl
Saturday, January 4 @ 1:00pm ET
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama

Team: Vanderbilt Commodores
Conference: Southeastern
Records: 8-4 SU, 6-6 ATS, 7-5 OU

Team: Houston Cougars
Conference: American Athletic
Records: 8-4 SU, 10-2 ATS, 5-7 OU

Sportsbook Spread / Total (from Sportsbook)
Vanderbilt Commodores -2.5 / 53.5 Points

[Compass Bowl Matchup Stats | Vanderbilt vs. Houston Betting Preview]

Compass Bowl Betting Trends: Six of the last seven Compass Bowl games played UNDER the total . . . Big East teams are 5-2 SU in Compass Bowls.

The 8-4 Houston Cougars struggled in the second half of the season, losing four of six before ending the regular season by pounding Southern Methodist 34-0. The Cougars have been rock solid ATS, posting a 10-2 record, including a perfect 4-0 ATS mark as underdogs. The UNDER has played in the Cougars’ last four games. The Cougars have averaged just 138.42 yards on the ground this year, and have not achieved that number in their last five games, but have averaged over 284 passing yards this year, good for 27th in the nation. The Vanderbilt Commodores have won their last four SU, twice as underdogs, covering the spread in three of those games. Vandy are 2-3 ATS as favorites this season. In each case, the Commodores were favored by double digits. The total in Vandy’s last three games has not exceeded 43, after eclipsing 50 in seven of their nine previous games.

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The Pittsburgh Panthers and Mississippi Rebels were both just .500 teams this season, but they've managed to pay off their supporters on the college football odds at a combined 17-7 ATS heading into their matchup in the Compass Bowl on January 5.

For updated lines and totals on all of this year's bowl games head over to the college football betting boards at Sportsbook, Sportsbook, and Sportsbook today.

Compass Bowl
Saturday, January 5 @ 1:00pm ET
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama

Team: Pittsburgh Panthers
Conference: Big East
Records: 6-6 SU, 8-4 ATS, 4-6 OU

Team: Mississippi Rebels
Conference: Southeastern
Records: 6-6 SU, 9-3 ATS, 5-6 OU

Sportsbook Spread / Total (from Sportsbook)
Mississippi -2 / 51.5 Points

[Compass Bowl Matchup Stats]

Compass Bowl Betting Trends: All six Compass Bowls played UNDER the total . . . Big East is 5-1 SU in the Compass Bowl . . . Ole Miss is 6-1-1 ATS in past eight bowl games.

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The Southern Methodist Mustangs will be going to their third straight bowl game this year after going 24 years without a single bowl appearance from 1985-2008.

For A FREE $25 WAGER on a BCS bowl game, check out the offers at Sportsbook today.

Compass Bowl
Saturday, January 7 @ 1:00pm ET
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama

Team: Southern Methodist Mustangs
Conference: Conference USA
Records: 7-5 SU, 4-8 ATS, 4-8 OU

Team: Pittsburgh Panthers
Conference: Big East
Records: 6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS, 5-7 OU

Spread / Total (from Sportsbook)
Pittsburgh -3.5 / 47 Points

[Compass Bowl Matchup Stats]

Despite falling short of higher hopes heading into the season, the Southern Methodist Mustangs and the Pittsburgh Panthers still earned a trip to go bowling and will meet in this year’s Compass Bowl. Pitt has won in each of its last two bowl appearances.

SMU started the season off strong with a 5-1 SU record (4-2 ATS) including an upset win over TCU on the road, but the Mustangs fizzled out to the tune of a 2-4 SU (0-6 ATS) finish with three double-digit losses. Pittsburgh narrowly earned bowl eligibility at 6-6 SU, but the Panthers did finish the season strong at 3-2 SU with a 5-0 ATS record. It was Pittsburgh head coach Todd Graham’s first season with the program, but he won’t be coaching in this bowl game as he left to take the vacant Arizona State head coaching position.

With star running back Ray Graham out with a knee injury, junior quarterback Tino Sunseri is the most important player on Pittsburgh’s offense. Sunseri had an underwhelming year this season, passing for 2,433 yards with 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

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Pittsburgh is using its third coach in two months and Kentucky suspended its starting QB for the Compass Bowl, where the Panthers are 3.5-point favorites in college football betting action when they play the Wildcats.

Compass Bowl
Saturday, January 8 @ 12:00pm ET
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama

Team: Pittsburgh Panthers
Conference: Big East Conference
Records: 7-5 SU, 6-3-2 ATS, 6-5 OU

Team: Kentucky Wildcats
Conference: Southeastern Conference
Records: 6-6 SU, 6-5 ATS, 8-3 OU

Spread / Total (from Sportsbook)
Pittsburgh -3.5 / 52.5 Points

[Compass Bowl Matchup Stats]

Sophomore Morgan Newton will replace suspended veteran starting QB Mike Hartline for Kentucky, and with his lack of experience you can bet a running game will be the order of the night.

Newton will be tasked with finding Randall Cobb, who was named a first-team All-American after notching 2,191 all-purpose yards – which is a school-record. Derrick Lowe averaged 112 yards per game over seven contests off the ground, while sitting out four with a shoulder injury. He also had eight games in 2009 when Hartline was on the shelf, so he’s certainly capable at this level.

Cobb had 15 touchdowns this season for Kentucky, who must utilize his speed to help find the open yards. If executed, the Wildcats could position themselves for victory and cover the Compass Bowl odds.

Defensive end Jabaal Sheard was the conference defensive player of the year, and should help the Panthers shut down Cobb, who Pittsburgh must keep off his game if they are to win and cover the NCAAF odds set for the tilt.

Pittsburgh needs to establish the run offense and get Dion Lewis going in the backfield for the Panthers to fulfil oddsmakers' faith in the 3.5-point advantage in the Compass Bowl odds.

The Panthers will primarily attack with the run to be successful but they do have a capable receiver in Jonathan Baldwin, who had 810 yards receiving with five touchdowns.

These teams have paid out to OVER bettors 14 times this season, and should peak the interest of totals bettors in college football betting.