The Birmingham Bowl is the second of three matchups on the 2021 bowl docket to feature an SEC team and an AAC member that is also a future Big 12 institution. Houston and Auburn both dropped competitive matchups to College Football Playoff qualifiers in their most recent outings, but one of the programs will rebound with a coveted bowl victory in Central Alabama.
Match Details
- Houston Cougars and Auburn Tigers
- NCAA Football – 2021 TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl
- Date – 28/12/2021
- Starting time – 12 PM ET
- Venue: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX
Houston Cougars Stats & Form
The Houston Cougars finally experienced the season it envisioned when hiring Dana Holgorsen to a lucrative deal on New Year’s Day of 2019. The Cougars are having an amazing season with an 11-2 record. The Cougars lost the opening game against the Texas Tech 38-21 and the last one, 35-20 against the Cincinnati Bearcats. In between Houston on 11 straight games with an average margin of 20.5 points.
Cougars junior QB Clayton Tune passed for 250 yards with two touchdowns and an interception as Houston lost to the 13-0 Cincinnati.
Momentum was on Houston’s side at halftime when they trailed 14-13. But two crucial plays in the third quarter, leading to 21 straight points for the Bearcats. The Cougars lead the nation in third-down defense with 25.58% conversion rate and are 13th in the country with 37.3 points per game.
Houston Cougars News
RB James Fullbright III and CB Marcus Jones are out for Houston against Auburn while WR KeSean Carter is questionable.
Auburn Tigers Stats & Form
Auburn’s first season under longtime Boise State coach Bryan Harsin launched to a promising 6-2 start. After a 31-20 win on October 30, the Tigers have lost four straight and are currently on a 6-6 record. Their last game was an epic one, as Auburn pushed the Alabama Crimson Tide to four overtimes. Despite the 24-22 loss, Tigers’ performance deserved the respect of all football fans.
Three different receivers currently display between 35 and 40 receptions and between 474 and 523 yards. Tank Bigsby was the leading rusher for the Tigers in the regular season with 1,003 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Tigers are a much better team than their record shows two of their best players will not suit up against Houston.
Auburn recently lost its starting quarterback of three years, Bo Nix, to the transfer portal. Nix transferred to Oregon, leaving T.J. Finley as the undisputed starting quarterback for the Birmingham Bowl. Auburn cornerback Roger McCreary announced last week that he will sit this one out and begin his preparation for the NFL Draft.
Auburn Tigers News
QB Bo Nix, K Anders Carlson, WR Tar’Varish Dawson Jr. and DT Jeremiah Wright are all out for Auburn.
Houston Cougars vs Auburn Tigers Head-to-Head Stats
These two teams have met six times, with Auburn holding a 5-1 series lead, although the last meeting was a 7-0 Tigers win in 1973.
Houston Cougars vs Auburn Tigers Betting Odds
The Auburn Tigers are slight favorites to win this one with -133 odds to do so while the Houston Cougars are at -103.
The total point margin is set at 51 with -111 for both ways.
Betting Tip
The Tigers must win to claim their first bowl win since 2018 and to extend their streak of eight consecutive winning seasons.
Given the season record, Houston looks much better but things might go the other way. Auburn is basically playing on home court as their campus is only 145 miles away from Birmingham.
A tight game is expected but Aubrurn’s speed and size will make the difference as the game is ending. Auburn is expected to win covering the spread in a game that will finish under 51.5 points.
- Tip Quote (Home team win): -103 by 22bet
- Tip Quote (Away team win): -133 by 22bet
- Expert betting tip: Auburn Tigers to win (-133 by 22bet)
