Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan Picks and Prediction, Friday, December 19, 2025
Use Code WWWC On Friday, the Kennesaw State Owls and Western Michigan Broncos will play in the Myrtle Beach Bowl at Brooks Stadium. Kickoff from Conway, SC, is at 11:00 a.m. ET.
The Broncos are 3.5-point spread favorites, and the total is 48 points scored.
This Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan prediction highlights an Owls squad that went 10-3 this college football season, winning the Conference USA championship, and a Broncos team that finished with a 9-4 record and the MAC title. Friday's matchup marks the first-ever matchup between these football teams. The Myrtle Beach Bowl is an annual game inaugurated in 2020.
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Kennesaw State boasts an explosive offense
Kennesaw State (10-3 SU, 8-4-1 ATS, and 5-8 O/U) went 7-1 in CUSA competition, winning its final three games. The Owls began the season 0-2, falling 10-9 to Wake Forest and 56-9 to Indiana, but then won 10 of their next 11 games. They covered the spread in three straight and are 7-2-1 ATS in their last ten.
KSU emerged victorious from the Conference USA Championship despite a late rally by Jacksonville State. The Owls shut out the Gamecocks for the majority of the title game, but relinquished the lead with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when JSU rushed for a touchdown. Kennesaw State responded by driving 75 yards for the game-winning score.
Sophomore QB Amari Odom led the Owls' offense with 2,385 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns this season. He also rushed for seven scores. The California native's top receiving targets were senior WR Gabriel Benyard (55 receptions for 898 yards and nine TDs) and senior WR Christian Moss (43 receptions for 677 yards and two TDs). Senior RB Coleman Bennett paced the Kennesaw State rushing attack with 148 carries for 716 yards and four scores.
The Owls averaged 28.3 points (69th) and 404.3 total yards (54th) per game this season, including 245.7 passing yards (52nd) and 158.6 rushing yards (69th). Kennesaw State's opponents averaged 24.3 points (63rd) and 403.2 total yards (95th) per game this season, including 227.8 passing yards (82nd) and 175.5 rushing yards (101st).
Kennesaw State Owls Injury Report:
- DB Antonio Stevens and DB JeRico Washington Jr. are probable to play in the Myrtle Beach Bowl vs Western Michigan.
Western Michigan is led by its defense
Western Michigan (9-4 SU, 9-3-1 ATS, and 6-7 O/U) finished 7-1 in MAC competition this season, winning its final five games. Like Kennesaw State, the Broncos started the season on the wrong foot (0-3 with losses to Michigan State, North Texas, and Illinois) before reeling off nine wins in their next ten games. WMU covered the spread in three of its final four games and was 7-2-1 ATS in the last ten.
Western Michigan beat Miami (OH) 23-13 in the MAC Championship, jumping out to an early lead that it never gave up. The Broncos outgained the RedHawks 397-272, as they dominated on the ground (56 carries for 286 yards) and won the time of possession battle by over ten minutes. They were also effective through the air (8.5 yards per pass), unlike Miami (14-for-38 passing).
Sophomore QB Broc Lowry paced the Broncos' passing attack with 1,683 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions. The dual-threat also led the team in rushing, toting the football 197 times for 940 yards (4.8 YPC) and 14 rushing scores. A few other Western Michigan stars to watch in the Myrtle Beach Bowl are junior RB Jalen Buckley (171 carries for 829 yards and eight TDs), senior WR Talique Williams (35 receptions for 478 yards and two TDs), and sophomore WR Baylin Brooks (25 receptions for 396 yards).
The Broncos averaged 23.6 points (97th) and 336.5 total yards (110th) per game this season, including 139.9 passing yards (129th) and 196.6 rushing yards (25th). Western Michigan's opponents averaged 18.2 points (14th) and 299.9 total yards (15th) per game this season, including 177.7 passing yards (17th) and 122.2 rushing yards (33rd).
Western Michigan Broncos Injury Report:
- No significant injuries to report for the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan Pick and Preview
Spread Pick for Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan
- Owls +3.5 (5 Units)
This matchup pits two Group of 5 champs who were overachievers this season, setting the stage for a competitive contest. They play different styles, as the Owls' offense is pass-oriented, while the Broncos prefer to run the football. WMU also has a stout defense, the x-factor to its MAC title run. That said, Kennesaw State was the more dominant team over the last ten games, as it outgained the only team it lost to (Jax State) 579-451 during that stretch. The Owls' offense is more balanced, as well, as Odom brings an element to the passing game (66.8% CMP% and 18 passing TDs) that Lowry can't match. They also average 40 rushes per game, with their top two backs averaging over 4.5 yards per carry.
Western Michigan's defense is legit, but it will be tested often by Kennesaw State's explosive offense (192 plays of 10+ yards and 25 more plays of 20+ yards than the Broncos). Take the Owls to cover at +3.5!
Over/Under Pick for Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan
- Under 48 (4 Units)
I prefer a wager on the under in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Both schools played in low-scoring conference championship games (34 and 36 total points), but the total has reached as high as 50 points, creating value in a bet on the under. I anticipate the Broncos controlling the game clock with their ground game in an effort to rest their defense and keep the football away from the explosive Owls offense. That style of play suited WMU well enough this season, as it averaged the 15th-highest time of possession (32:26) in the country, while KSU ranked 107th in that department. The Broncos' defense has also been stout on third down (14th in opponent third-down conversion percentage). Couple that with the Owls' below-average red zone conversion percentage (79.1%, 105th in the country), and the under is an appealing bet at 48 total points.
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