The Birmingham Bowl matches two teams which suffered stinging losses in their most recent games. This will be a test of each team\u2019s ability to get off the mat and compete with vigor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Houston Cougars vs. Auburn Tigers Location:<\/strong> Legion Field, Birmingham, AL<\/p>\n\n\n\n CFB Odds:<\/strong> Auburn -2.5<\/p>\n\n\n\n Houston Cougars<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Houston looked like a team that could potentially upset Luke Fickell\u2019s bid for a College Football Playoff opportunity with Cincinnati this year, but it was not to be. The Bearcats trounced Dana Holgorsen\u2019s Cougars by a score of 35-20 in the AAC Championship Game. The only other game Houston lost on the year was the opener to a Texas Tech team that honestly had no business beating Houston. Nevertheless, Houston finished 11-2 on the year and now has a chance to win a 12th game in the same season for the first time since 2015 under then-coach Tom Herman. Should Houston win a 12th<\/sup> game this season, it would mark only the third time in history that this program has reached such a mark in the same season. While this is a virtual home game for Auburn in Birmingham, it\u2019s not like Houston will be overwhelmed by a partisan crowd. This is a midday kickoff on a Tuesday, and Auburn is not an elite team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It remains to be seen, however, if Houston\u2019s overall record means anything, given that it occurred in the context of a Group of Five conference, the AAC, and not a Power Five league such as the SEC. It\u2019s a clash of perceptions as much as teams in this contest. Auburn being favored means the betting public is inclined to give the SEC team the benefit of the doubt, at least thus far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Auburn, it should be noted, is also coming off an overtime loss to Alabama, so it\u2019s hard to know if the Tigers will feel juiced up or deflated here. Houston should be naturally motivated to prove itself against an SEC opponent. Auburn exists in a more uncertain situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Auburn Tigers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Tigers know they took Alabama, the top seed in the College Football Playoff and one of the best teams in the nation, to overtime and nearly won a few weeks ago. While coach Bryan Harsin hasn\u2019t exactly encountered smooth sailing since he arrived at Auburn, there\u2019s an argument to be made that growing pains are a thing. They\u2019re a fact of life in coaching transitions. Harsin will have to overcome them. Pushing Alabama will give Harsin the short-term belief he can make things work, but losing to Houston in this bowl game would undercut that momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It starts with defense for Auburn. If the Tigers can shut down Houston quarterback Clayton Tune, the Tigers have more than enough on both sides of the ball to get their seventh win of the year. Auburn landed the nation\u2019s number 16 recruiting class between the Alabama contest and this bowl game, so there will be storylines coming out of this game one way or another. With quarterback Bo Nix not playing in this game due to a transfer portal entry (he went to Oregon), the Tigers will begin the game firmly behind the eight-ball in quarterback play. They will have to go to T.J. Finley, who struggled against Alabama. This means the Tigers are going to have to rely on their defense and their run game to beat the high-flying Cougars. Bo Nix\u2019s absence will not be an acceptable excuse for Harsin. Auburn is still expected to win by many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Outlook<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Auburn offense will be limited with T.J. Finley at quarterback. Houston will be more amped for this game because of the SEC label attached to Auburn. Houston should win a relatively close game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cougars vs. Tigers Prediction:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cougars 31, Tigers 24<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Birmingham Bowl matches two teams which suffered stinging losses in their most recent games. 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Date:<\/strong> Tuesday, December 28th, 12:00 PM ET<\/p>\n\n\n\n