Celebration Bowl
- Matchup: Howard vs. Florida A&M
- Date: Saturday, December 16, 2023
- Time:Â 12:00 p.m.
- Stadium:Â Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Ga.)
- ’22 Winner: Howard Bison
Celebration Bowl Odds
The Celebration Bowl has been played during the NCAA postseason for the last seven years between the champions of both the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The inaugural game took place in 2015.
Since then, the Celebration Bowl has become one of the most thrilling games, not only due to the overall level of performance displayed by rival college foobtall teams but also because it stands as a celebration of pride for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as a heritage celebration as well.
This year’s edition of the Celebration Bowl will be held on December 16 at 12 ET in the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Although teams have not yet been defined, odds have always become solid indicators to predict the outcome of the game.
In the 2021 edition of the Celebration Bowl, the South Carolina State faced the Jackson State Tigers. The Bulldogs, although arriving as the champions of the MEAC conference, were placed as the underdogs.
Odds hovered around the +350 moneyline for the Bulldogs. That meant that a $100 wager would earn bettors a $350 profit. On the other hand, the Tigers were up as a favorite with an 11-1 with -450 odds, which meant that a $450 wager on Jackson State would turn out a $100 profit for bettors.
The Celebration Bowl spread at the time, and the over/under, were also leaning in favor of the Tigers, set at -10.5 points for a total of 42.5 points. Those who bet on South Carolina, however, made big earnings by nailing one of the most surprising victories of the last Celebration Bowl Score surprises.
Celebration Bowl Betting Trends & Tips
Making the most of the best NCAAF odds and trends is the key to winning bets, especially on events such as the Celebration Bowl. Focusing on stats, data, and all past details about the event can allow bettors to truly make the most of every dollar wagered on Celebration Bowl games.Â
Making wise decisions is all about taking as much data as possible into account. Looking at top trends, tips, and picks will allow bettors to make solid earnings over the short and long term and make the most of Celebration Bowl games.Â
Some trends that have continued to characterize the Celebration Bowl are the following:
- MEAC’s North Carolina A&T is now the most successful team in the history of the Celebration Bowl, with 4 wins in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019 editions of the event.Â
- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teams have dominated Southwestern Athletic Conference rivals at the Celebration Bowl with five wins against just one from SWAC.Â
- Up to 2018 and currently, MEAC remains the strongest conference among analysts and experts within the HBCUs.Â
- With the exception of the 2016 edition, MEAC teams have won both MVP awards in every remaining edition of the event.
Betting History of the Celebration Bowl
The Celebration Bowl was first played back in 2015. That year, North Carolina AT&T took a 41-34 win over the Alcorn State Braves. The Grambling State Tigers would tie the series between both conferences by taking home the 2016 edition, with a 10-9 win over the North Carolina Central Eagles.
North Carolina A&T won the next three celebration Bowls in a row. First, it was against the Grambling State Tigers that A&T would take a 21-14 win. In 2018, the Aggies nailed a tight 24-22 win over Alcorn State.
Finally, in 2019, the Aggies nailed the highest score recorded in Celebration Bowl games by nailing a 64-44 victory over Alcorn State once again. The following year’s edition of the Celebration Bowl was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols.
Last year, against all odds, the South Carolina State Bulldogs pulled a 31-10 win over the Jackson State Tigers. This follows MEAC to take a 5-1 record against SWAC in Celebration Bowl stats.
Celebration Bowl Scores (Playoff)
The Celebration Bowl has been played by MEAC and SWAC teams since 2015, except for the 2020 edition of the bowl, which was suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions and protocols. Since then, teams from both rival conferences have fought to become top rivals, MEAC dominating over SWAC teams.
Scores have also been gradually increasing, and some games, such as the 2015 and the 2019 editions, have surpassed the 40 and 60-point mark. As in the case of most NCAA division bowls, scores tend to exceed high numbers.
| Season | WON | LOST | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | NC Central | Jackson State Tigers | 41-34 |
| 2021 | South Carolina State Bulldogs | Jackson State Tigers | 31-10 |
| 2020 | —— | Cancelled due to COVID | —— |
| 2019 | North Carolina A&T | Alcorn State | 64-44 |
| 2018 | North Carolina A&T | Alcorn State | 24-22 |
| 2017 | North Carolina A&T | Grambling State | 21-14 |
| 2016 | Grambling State | North Carolina Central | 10-9 |
| 2015 | North Carolina A&T | Alcorn State | Â 41-34 |
| Wins | Teams | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina State Bulldogs | 2021 |
| 5 | North Carolina A&T | 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 |
| 1 | Grambling State | 2016 |
