Central Michigan vs. Northwestern Predictions: 2025 GameAbove Sports Bowl Odds, Picks & Best Bet
In the first post-Christmas bowl game, my Central Michigan vs. Northwestern predictions expect a low-scoring matchup between two run-oriented programs that lean on strong defensive play.
Northwestern is a 10.5-point betting favorite for today's 1 p.m. ET (ESPN) GameAbove Sports Bowl from Ford Field in Detroit, in the sixth bowl game featured in our college football predictions this week.
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🏈 Central Michigan vs. Northwestern prediction: 2025 GameAbove Sports Bowl
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| Best bets | Odds | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan +10.5 | -108 via DraftKings | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Caleb Komolafe 2+ TDs | +210 via bet365 | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Central Michigan +10.5 (-108) ⭐⭐⭐
Northwestern's offense is so one-dimensional that it's among the worst you'll see this bowl season. With the sporadic Preston Stone behind center, David Braun's team is No. 99 in offensive SP+, which is why the Wildcats have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five.
CMU plays a similar style under first-year head coach Matt Drinkall. The Chippewas shorten games by rarely going to the air - 42.6 runs per game vs. 19.1 passes.
⬇️ Trust these defenses, not the offenses
Neither of these teams can pass the ball with any consistency. Both average under 185 passing yards per game and run the ball more than twice the amount they pass it. That lends well to this Under, and is the reason why I like parlaying the Under (42.5) with CMU to cover at +228 via DraftKings.
With both offenses wanting to control the time of possession, Northwestern won't have time to score enough points to cover.
Score prediction: Northwestern 20, Central Michigan 13
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🙌 Best Central Michigan vs. Northwestern TD pick: GameAbove Sports Bowl
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Caleb Komolafe, RB, Northwestern: 2+ TDs (+210) ⭐⭐⭐
By far the most trustworthy offensive player in this game is Northwestern's Caleb Komolafe. That's why he's priced at -225 to score at our best college football betting sites.
However, against a CMU defense that's one of the best in the Group of Six, Komolafe scoring twice is a better bet than backing either of these teams to be productive through the air. And it doesn't hurt that he's running behind a potential first-round offensive lineman in Caleb Tiernan.
The redshirt sophomore is the focal point of Northwestern's offense and was at his best down the stretch, averaging 111.2 yards from scrimmage on 18.5 touches per game with six touchdowns in his last four outings. That includes scoring two TDs in two of those four games.
Komolafe missed the Wildcats' regular-season finale against Illinois, but is expected to be back for the GameAbove Sports Bowl.
📝 Top NFL draft prospects for GameAbove Sports Bowl
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| Player | Position | Key stats | NFL draft grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern | OL | 3 sacks, 13 pressures allowed | Round 1-2 |
| Anto Saka, Northwestern | EDGE | 26 pressures, 3 sacks | Round 6-UDFA |
| Jordan Kwiatkowski, Central Michigan | LB | 109 tackles, 12.5 TFLs | Round 6-UDFA |
| Michael Heldman, Central Michigan | EDGE | 16 TFLs, 10.5 sacks | Round 6-UDFA |
📊 Live Central Michigan vs. Northwestern odds: GameAbove Sports Bowl
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Central Michigan vs. Northwestern opening odds
- Moneyline: Central Michigan +325 | Northwestern -426
- Spread: Central Michigan +10.5 (-110) | Northwestern -10.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 43.5 (-110) | Under 43.5 (-110)
📈 Central Michigan vs. Northwestern betting trends
| Central Michigan | Statistic | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| 7-5 | W-L record | 6-6 |
| 8-4 | ATS record | 6-4-2 |
| 7-5 | O/U record | 5-7 |
| 5.4 | Yards per play | 5.4 |
| 5.4 | Yards allowed per play | 5.7 |
| +0.7 | Turnover margin | +/-XX |
| 3-2 | Last 5 games | 1-4 |
| L, 21-3 vs. Toledo | Previous result | L, 20-13 vs. Illinois |
📺 How to watch Central Michigan vs. Northwestern: GameAbove Sports Bowl
- Date: Friday, Dec. 26
- Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Ford Field (Detroit)
- TV: ESPN
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