The TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl is scheduled to kick off on Dec. 27 at 3:15 p.m. OR 6:45 p.m. ET during the 2022-23 College Football Bowl Season. The game is held at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala., making it one of 12 bowl stadiums to be the primary home of an FBS team (UAB). This year, the East Carolina Pirates (7-5) play the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (9-3). Below, we’ll look at Birmingham Bowl odds and bowl history.
Birmingham Bowl odds: East Carolina Vs. Coastal Carolina
To place a bet on the Birmingham Bowl, click on the odds in the table below. Toggle between spread, moneyline, total, or a blended view using the dropdown menu. View all bowl game odds here.
East Carolina is a strong favorite over Coastal Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl. ECU is one of the best contrarian plays in bowl confidence pools this go-around. Coastal Carolina is a huge public choice thanks to both their record and name recognition.
Despite a >80% expected win rate, only 34% of confidence pools selected ECU.
However, the Chanticleers are without two major pieces: outside linebacker Josiah Stewart, who hit the portal. QB Grayson McCall played in the Sun Belt Championship, but entered the transfer portal in a truly shocking move. However, McCall assured he would play in this game. Head coach Jamey Chadwell also departed for Liberty.
Without McCall, Coastal Carolina was destroyed 47-7 in their regular season finale by James Madison. However, McCall playing may be enough to keep Coastal in the game, as ECU is 121st in passing success rate allowed on the season.
In response, ECU saw three points of movement in their favor. Pirate backers are going to want to wait for live opportunities to bet if at all since the best number to back ECU is gone. QB Holton Ahlers and 1,000-yard rusher Keaton Mitchell should have an outing against Coastal’s porous defense that’s also without both starting corners (transfer).
Notable Opt Outs
Coastal Carolina: LB Josiah Stewart, CB Manny Stokes, CB Zxaequan Reeves
East Carolina: TE Ryan Jones, C Avery Jones, SAF Shawn Dourseau
Birmingham Bowl betting
Last year, the 11-win Houston Cougars played an underdelivering Auburn Tigers as one-point favorites. In a low-scoring, defensive affair, the Cougs won 17-13, covering the spread but failing to hit the over. Houston was the second straight favorite from the American to win the game and the game was the second straight under to cash.
The American has won four out of the last five matchups outright, with every game being played against a Power Five opponent.
Favorites are 9-5-2 all time in the Birmingham Bowl; unders are 11-3-1 all time. In fact, an over didn’t cash for the first seven iterations of the bowl game.
History
Below are historical results of the Birmingham Bowl.
The first Birmingham Bowl was played in 2006– when it was named the PapaJohns.com Bowl– where USF beat East Carolina 24-7.
| Date | Bowl name | Winner | Score | Loser | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 27, 2022 | Birmingham Bowl | East Carolina | 53 | Coastal Carolina | 29 |
| December 28, 2021 | Birmingham Bowl | No. 21 Houston | 17 | Auburn | 13 |
| January 2, 2020 | Birmingham Bowl | No. 23 Cincinnati | 36 | Boston College | 6 |
| December 22, 2018 | Birmingham Bowl | Wake Forest | 37 | Memphis | 34 |
| December 23, 2017 | Birmingham Bowl | No. 23 South Florida | 38 | Texas Tech | 34 |
| December 29, 2016 | Birmingham Bowl | No. 25 South Florida | 46 | South Carolina | 39 (OT) |
| December 30, 2015 | Birmingham Bowl | Auburn | 31 | Memphis | 10 |
| January 3, 2015 | Birmingham Bowl | Florida | 28 | East Carolina | 20 |
| January 4, 2014 | BBVA Compass Bowl | Vanderbilt | 41 | Houston | 24 |
| January 5, 2013 | BBVA Compass Bowl | Ole Miss | 38 | Pittsburgh | 17 |
| January 7, 2012 | BBVA Compass Bowl | SMU | 28 | Pittsburgh | 6 |
| January 8, 2011 | BBVA Compass Bowl | Pittsburgh | 27 | Kentucky | 10 |
| January 2, 2010 | PapaJohns.com Bowl | Connecticut | 20 | South Carolina | 7 |
| December 29, 2008 | PapaJohns.com Bowl | Rutgers | 29 | NC State | 23 |
| December 22, 2007 | PapaJohns.com Bowl | No. 20 Cincinnati | 31 | Southern Miss | 21 |
| December 23, 2006 | PapaJohns.com Bowl | South Florida | 24 | East Carolina | 7 |
FAQ
When is the 2022 Birmingham Bowl?
The 2022 Birmingham Bowl will be played on Dec. 27, 2022 at 3:15 p.m. OR 6:45 p.m. ET, to be determined after the matchup is set.
Where is the Birmingham Bowl?
Protective Stadium in Birmingham now hosts the Birmingham Bowl. The venue opened before the 2021 season and before then, it was held at historic Legion Field in Birmingham.
Who is playing in the 2022 Birmingham Bowl?
East Carolina takes on Coastal Carolina in the 2022 Birmingham Bowl.