Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, CFB Picks, CFB Free Picks, CFB Predictions 12/19/25

Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, CFB Picks, CFB Free Picks, CFB Predictions 12/19/25

MYRTLE BEACH BOWL

KENNESAW STATE vs. WESTERN MICHIGAN (WMU -3.5, 47.5)

This season, Western Michigan and Kennesaw State emerged as somewhat unexpected conference champions.

After being selected seventh out of 13 teams in the league, Western Michigan (9-4) made a breakthrough in Lance Taylor's third season as coach, defeating Miami (Ohio) 23-13 to win the Mid-American Conference title on December 6. The Broncos had not won a conference title since PJ Fleck's last season in 2016.

An even greater surprise was Kennesaw State (10-3). After winning just two games in its inaugural FBS season in 2024, the Owls sacked their lone head coach, Brian Bohannon.

In Conference USA's preseason bowl confidence index, only four out of twenty-four voters believed Kennesaw State would even qualify for a bowl during Jerry Mack's first season as head coach. When the Owls defeated Jacksonville State 19–15 in the Conference USA championship game on December 5, they went 7–1 in conference play and disproved that notion.

These two overachievers will square off as the Group of Five conference champions on Friday at the Myrtle Beach Bowl in Conway, South Carolina. Western Michigan has won five straight games, while Kennesaw State has won three.

"Any time you can take two G5 conference champions, I think it makes for great TV, I think it makes for a great storyline, I think it makes for a great bowl matchup," Taylor stated. "I'm happy to see it. In the future, I hope we do more of this.

Although this is only the 11th season of the program, Kennesaw State has a history of postseason appearances, and this will be their first bowl game. From 2017 to 20, the Owls appeared in four consecutive FCS Playoffs, including quarterfinals in 2017 and 2018.

For the second consecutive season and the fifth time in nine years since Fleck left to accept a position at Minnesota, the Broncos are in the bowl. Prior to this clash, they had lost four of their previous five bowl games and had never participated in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

The passing game is the foundation of Kennesaw State's offense.

Amari Odom, a transfer from Wofford, is a sophomore quarterback who has passed for 2,385 yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions. In addition, he has seven touchdowns and 376 rushing yards. He has passed for 847 yards, 10 touchdowns, and no picks in his last three games.

Odom's outstanding regular season finale was attributed to "protecting the football," according to Mack. "... His ability to protect the football is what transforms him, it transforms our team into the best version of ourselves."

Gabriel Benyard, Odom's top target, had a tremendous senior season, leading CUSA in receiving yards (898) and sharing the league record in touchdown receptions (9).

On the other hand, Western Michigan's ground assault has dominated their offensive. The Broncos had the second-highest running offense (196.6) but the 11th-highest passing offense (139.9 yards per game) in the MAC.

With just 1,683 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns, quarterback Broc Lowry is fifth in rushing yards (940) and tied for the MAC lead with 14 rushing scores. Jalen Buckley, who finished the season with 829 yards and eight rushing touchdowns, is his backup.

The Broncos' defense, which ranks second in the conference in average yards (299.9) and points allowed (18.2) per game, is actually what earned them the MAC.

FREE PICK: WESTERN MICHIGAN -3

The Broncos have reeled off five straight wins since a regular season loss to Miami (OH). They beat the RedHawks to claim the MAC title and over their last 10 games, WMU is 7-2-1 ATS. That's because they are able to run the ball effectively - nearly 200 rushing yards per game - and play great defense (18.2 ppg, 14th in the nation). Kennesaw has a below average defense and WMU is 15th in the nation in time of possession. They can keep the ball away from Kennesaw's passing game.

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Ylose expert Coach Rick Bowe delivers his daily Quick Picks. The Coach continues to roll up big wins in college basketball, college football, the NFL, MLB 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.