Central Michigan vs. Northwestern Picks and Prediction for Friday, December 26, 2025
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On Friday, the Central Michigan Chippewas (7-5) face off against the Northwestern Wildcats (6-6) in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. This game will be aired on ESPN. Keep up to date with all the College Football action, with our College Football predictions.
Central Michigan vs. Northwestern Game Information
- December 26, 2025
- 1:00pm EST
- Ford Field
- ESPN
- 35° cloudy at start time
Northwestern Form & Recent Results
Northwestern heads into this matchup hoping to turn things around after a tough stretch, having lost four of their last five games, including a recent 20-13 defeat against Illinois. In that game, Wildcats quarterback Preston Stone completed 19 of 36 passes, notching one touchdown but also throwing three interceptions, a performance he’ll want to improve upon as the season draws to a close. This season, Stone has racked up 2,174 passing yards. Running back Caleb Komolafe has been a steady force, amassing 886 rushing yards. Out wide, Griffin Wilde leads the receivers with 783 yards, while Hayden Eligon II has contributed 476 yards of his own. Defensively, Northwestern has struggled lately, giving up an average of 29 points per contest over their last five games. As they get ready to face Central Michigan, the Wildcats are eager to break their losing streak and finish the season on a much more positive note.
Central Michigan Form & Recent Results
Central Michigan heads into this game looking to bounce back after a recent loss, though they've managed to win three of their last five games this season. In their most recent matchup, where they fell to Toledo 21-3, quarterback Joe Labas completed 19 of his 30 passes but was picked off once. Throughout the season, Labas has thrown for a total of 1,676 yards. On the ground, running back Nahree Biggins leads the way with 540 rushing yards, closely followed by quarterback Angel Flores, who has added 519 yards with his legs. In the receiving corps, Langston Lewis has been Labas’s top target, racking up 513 yards. As a team, the Chippewas have averaged 25.6 points over their last five games, and they’ll be aiming to finish their season strong by snapping their losing streak when they take on Northwestern in the upcoming GameAbove Sports Bowl in Detroit.
Key Players
- CMU QB Joe Labas this season: 126/183, 12 TD, 6 INT
- NU QB Preston Stone this season: 203/339, 14 TD, 12 INT
Betting Odds & Market Overview:
- NU -10.5; O/U 43.5
Central Michigan vs. Northwestern Picks and Prediction
Northwestern is aiming to close out their season on a high note by securing a bowl game victory over Central Michigan. One storyline to keep an eye on is Northwestern quarterback Preston Stone, who has struggled with turnovers this year and has thrown several interceptions. Central Michigan’s defense will no doubt be looking to take advantage of this vulnerability, hoping to force more mistakes and give themselves an edge in the matchup. Final Score Prediction, Northwestern Wildcats win and cover the spread, 29-13. Betting on sports and on Central Michigan is easy, but even easier if you use the best sportsbooks. Make sure you know about how the fans are looking on prediction markets for Northwestern with the social sportsbooks. Getting the most out of your bets on Central Michigan vs Northwestern can be done by using the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
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