Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, CFB/CBB Picks, CFB/CBB Free Picks, CFB/CBB Predictions 1/6/25

Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, CFB/CBB Picks, CFB/CBB Free Picks, CFB/CBB Predictions 1/6/25

NORTH DAKOTA STATE vs. MONTANA STATE (MTST -3.5, 58.5)

NORTH DAKOTA STATE +3.5

Back in the early 1990s, Coach Rick actually coached in a national championship game against North Dakota State. The year was 1990 and North Dakota State was still an NCAA Division II team. We had played the Bison in our season opener that year and lost on the road in Fargo. We went on to win 13 straight games and face them again for the national title.

We got our asses kicked 51-11! The Bison have pretty much been doing that to everyone else they have faced since. They've got nine FCS national championships and tonight they will face their toughest challenge this season - No. 1-ranked Montana State.

These two teams are essentially the same. They both have outstanding defenses. Both rank in the top 10 in the FCS in scoring defense. Both offenses are built around strong running games. Montana State ranks No. 2 in the FCS in rushing yards per game with 301. Both teams also have outstanding quarterbacks - Cam Miller for NDSU and Tommy Mellott for Montana State who just won the Walter Payton Award, the FCS equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

These two teams played in the second round of last season's playoffs. The game went to overtime. North Dakota State would win the game 35-34 on a blocked extra point. I like another close game tonight which I think favors the underdog.

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL @ MORGAN STATE (NCC -3.5, 154.5)

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL -3.5

UPDATE: THIS GAME IS POSTPONED UNTIL TOMORROW at 4PM

Yesterday, it was Canisius. Today, it's Morgan State. Like the Griffins, the Bears are one of the worst defensive teams in college basketball. Morgan State ranks 353rd in scoring defense giving up an average of 82 points per game. Somehow, the Bears have managed to go 6-11.

Morgan State has lost three straight games. In those three, the Bears allowed at least 86 points. North Carolina Central has just one win in its last four games, but NCC averages 79.4 points per game. They also rank 21st in the country in turnovers forced per game (15.6). I like NCC's defense to provide enough opportunities for the offense to get this done.

Ylose expert Coach Rick Bowe delivers his daily Quick Picks. The Coach continues to roll up big wins in MLB, college football, the NFL, and much more. Coach Rick offers a unique perspective to handicapping. Check out his daily free picks right here and jump on his daily Best Bets, which you can find right here at Ylose.com/coach.