Free College Football Picks Today: Birmingham Bowl 2022

The Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers (9-3, 3-2 Away) travel to face the East Carolina University Pirates (7-5, 4-3 Home) at Protective Stadium on Tuesday. The Pirates are seven-point favorites, and the total is 63.5. Coastal Carolina is coming off a 45-26 loss to Troy at Larry Blakeney Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium on December 3.

Grayson McCall was 29 of 41 for 319 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Reese White ran eight times for 44 yards. Tyson Mobley caught seven passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. East Carolina beat Temple 49-46 at Lincoln Financial Field on November 26. Holton Ahlers threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns.

Keaton Mitchell scored on the ground and through the air. He carried 27 times for 222 yards and three touchdowns and added two catches for 78 yards and a receiving TD.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Chanticleers are averaging 29.1 points per game for the season, 62nd in FBS, and they are facing a Pirates defense that has surrendered 27.0 PPG (72nd). Meanwhile, East Carolina has scored 30.8 points a game this season, 48th in the country, and Coastal Carolina is allowing 30.1 PPG (102nd).

The Chanticleers rank 49th in the nation in passing yards per game (249.0) and 60th in rushing (162.0). They will face a tough test on the ground, as the Pirates are 20th in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game (115.6). Against the pass, East Carolina is 130th (299.5).

East Carolina has been one of the country’s top passing teams, averaging 289.1 passing yards per game (17th), while ranking 55th in rushing yards (169.9). Coastal Carolina’s defense has been vulnerable through the air, as the Chanticleers are 125th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (282.0). Against the run, the Chanticleers are 39th (130.6).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through 10 games, Grayson McCall has thrown for 24 touchdowns (2 INT) and 263.3 yards per game to lead Coastal Carolina in passing. In four games away from home this season, he has seven TDs (1 INT) and an average of 238.5 yards passing. CJ Beasley leads the team in rushing with an average of 58.7 yards a game over 12 games. He has four touchdowns on the ground.

Sam Pinckney is the Chanticleers’ leading receiver with 76.4 yards a game and three TDs. Holton Ahlers has 23 passing touchdowns (5 INT) with 284.6 yards per game through 12 games to lead East Carolina.

Keaton Mitchell has been the team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 119.8 yards a game through 11 games. He has 14 total touchdowns, 13 rushing and one receiving.

Isaiah Winstead has been the primary target in the Pirates’ aerial attack. He has four touchdowns and an 84.0 yard per game average through 12 appearances.

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.