Central Michigan v. Northwestern

Central Michigan and Northwestern is the kind of bowl matchup that frustrates casual bettors and rewards anyone willing to live in the trenches. Both teams want to play the same brand of football: control the clock, run it with intent, and make you earn every point. It’s not a track meet — it’s a possession game, and the winner will likely be the team that stays clean on early downs and avoids the back-breaking turnover.

Northwestern head coach David Braun called this a “mirror” matchup for a reason. The profiles line up: two defenses that consistently keep games in reach and two offenses built around the run. The Wildcats have leaned on their physical identity all season, and they’ll bring that same formula to Ford Field. The key for Northwestern is whether graduate transfer quarterback Preston Stone can stay efficient when Central Michigan crowds the box. Stone doesn’t need to be a hero — he needs to be a manager who reinforces the run game with timely throws and avoids giving CMU short fields.

On the ground, Northwestern’s pace-setter is Caleb Komolafe, and he’s the type of back who can flip a bowl game with one dominant quarter. If Komolafe is getting downhill early, Northwestern can dictate tempo, shorten the game, and force Central Michigan into uncomfortable third-and-longs. That’s exactly where the Wildcats’ defense can take over, led by playmakers like Mac Uihlein in the backend and pass-rush pop from Aidan Hubbard.

Central Michigan’s path is similar, but with a slightly different stress point. Quarterback Joe Labas has been accurate when protected, and CMU will need him to hit the “easy money” throws off play-action to keep Northwestern honest. If the Chippewas can pair that with a productive day from Eli Flores and the run game, they can keep this tight deep into the fourth quarter. And that’s where bowl games often swing: a hidden special teams play, a short-field turnover, or one drive where a veteran quarterback stays poised while the other forces it.

Expect a lower-scoring, grind-it-out battle where field position matters, red-zone trips are precious, and discipline wins. If you like defense, patience, and old-school football, this one’s your bowl game.

Prediction:

Central Michigan 16
Northwestern 20