2025 FBS Bowl Game Predictions For The G5 Including the College Football Playoff

In 2025, there will be 40 Group of Five representatives involved in bowl season this year. That includes the two G5 programs that will compete in the College Football Playoff, Tulane and James Madison.

Here’s a look at my G5 2025 bowl predictions:

College Football Playoff First-Round Predictions

James Madison vs. Oregon Prediction

I predict Oregon will win but James Madison will cover the 21.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Over 50.5 total points.

Tulane vs. Ole Miss Prediction

I predict Ole Miss will win but Tulane will cover the 17.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 56.5 total points.

Myrtle Beach Bowl Prediction

I predict Western Michigan will win and cover the 3.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 47.5 total points.

I think this game will mean a lot to Kennesaw State. This is the Owls’ first appearance in a bowl game since they moved up from the FCS before the 2024 season.

But I believe this is a more favorable matchup for Western Michigan.

First of all, the Broncos are stout on defense. They’re 14th in the country in scoring defense with 18.23 points per game allowed. They’re also 14th in total defense with 299.9 yards per game allowed.

And while they weren’t in the top 50 in total offense or scoring offense, the Broncos did have a strong rushing attack this year. They were 22nd in the FBS with 196.6 rushing YPG. The Owls, meanwhile, were 100th in rushing defense with 175.5 YPG allowed on the ground.

I think WMU will be strong up front on both sides of the ball and will find a way to win.

Gasparilla Bowl Prediction

I predict Memphis will win and therefore cover the 4.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 57.5 total points.

It’s always a concern, but it doesn’t appear (as of this writing) that Memphis or NC State will be heavily impacted by opt-outs. And if that’s the case, I think Memphis will be the superior team.

Memphis is better than NC State in scoring offense, scoring defense, total offense, and total defense. The Tigers are in the top 50 in the country in scoring offense (34.6 points per game), scoring defense (22.5 PPG allowed), and total offense (420.7 yards per game). 

NC State’s defense, meanwhile, was in the bottom 20 in the country with 421 YPG allowed.

I know Ryan Silverfield is now at Arkansas, but I think Memphis still manages to close this season – which started out so promising and then became disappointing – with a bowl win. That will help the program maintain momentum as it goes into Charles Huff’s first season as Memphis’ head coach in 2026.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Prediction

For my Famous Idaho Potato Bowl prediction, I project Utah State will defeat Washington State and cover the 3.5-point spread. I also predict the game will go Under 52.5 total points.

Boca Raton Bowl Prediction

For my Boca Raton Bowl prediction, I project Louisville will defeat Toledo and cover the 8.5-point spread. I also predict the game will go Under 44.5 total points.

New Orleans Bowl Prediction

For my New Orleans Bowl prediction, I project Western Kentucky will defeat Southern Miss and cover the four-point spread. I also predict the game will go Over 55.5 total points.

Frisco Bowl Prediction

For my Frisco Bowl prediction, I project UNLV will defeat Ohio and cover the 4.5-point spread. I also predict the game will go Over 62.5 total points.

Hawaii Bowl Prediction

For my Hawaii Bowl prediction, I project Hawaii will defeat Cal and therefore cover the three-point spread. I also predict the game will go Over 55.5 total points.

GameAbove Sports Bowl Prediction

For my GameAbove Sports Bowl prediction, I project Northwestern will defeat Central Michigan but CMU will cover the 10.5-point spread. I also predict the game will go Under 43.5 total points.

Rate Bowl Prediction

For my Rate Bowl prediction, I project New Mexico will defeat Minnesota and therefore cover the 2.5-point spread. I also predict the game will go Over 47.5 total points.

First Responder Bowl Prediction

For my First Responder Bowl prediction, I project UTSA will defeat FIU.

Military Bowl Prediction

For my Military Bowl prediction, I project East Carolina will defeat Pitt and therefore cover the six-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 59.5 total points.

Fenway Bowl Prediction

For my Fenway Bowl prediction, I project Army will defeat UConn and cover the three-point spread. I also predict the game will go Under 50.5 total points.

Arizona Bowl Prediction

For my Arizona Bowl prediction, I project Fresno State will defeat Miami (Ohio) and cover the 3.5-point spread. I also predict the game will go Under 42.5 total points.

New Mexico Bowl Prediction

For my New Mexico Bowl prediction, I project San Diego State will defeat North Texas and therefore cover the 3.5-point spread. I also predict the game will go Under 56.5 total points.

Birmingham Bowl Prediction

For my Birmingham Bowl prediction, I project Georgia Southern will defeat App State.

Independence Bowl Prediction

For my Independence Bowl prediction, I project Louisiana Tech will defeat Coastal Carolina and cover the 7.5-point spread. I also predict the game will go Under 50.5 total points.

Armed Forces Bowl Prediction

For my Armed Forces Bowl prediction, I project Texas State will defeat Rice but Rice will cover the 10.5-point spread. I also predict the game will go Under 59.5 total points.

Liberty Bowl Prediction

For my Liberty Bowl prediction, I project Navy will defeat Cincinnati and cover the 2.5-point spread. I also predict the game will go Under 55.5 total points.

FBS Bowl Schedule For The G5

Bowl	Teams	Time (ET)	Date	TV
LA Bowl	Boise State vs. Washington	8 pm	12/13/25	ABC
Salute To Veterans Bowl	Troy vs. Jax State	9 pm	12/16/25	ESPN
Cure Bowl	Old Dominion vs. USF	5 pm	12/17/25	ESPN
68 Ventures Bowl	Louisiana vs. Delaware	8:30 pm	12/17/25	ESPN
XBox Bowl	Missouri State vs. Arkansas State	9 pm	12/18/25	ESPN2
Myrtle Beach Bowl	Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan	11 am	12/19/25	ESPN
Gasparilla Bowl	Memphis vs. NC State	2:30 pm	12/19/25	ESPN
CFP First Round	Tulane vs. Ole Miss	3:30 pm	12/20/25	TNT/HBO
CFP First Round	JMU vs. Oregon	7:30 pm	12/20/25	TNT/HBO
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl	Washington State vs. Utah State	2 pm	12/22/25	ESPN
Boca Raton Bowl	Toledo vs. Louisville	2 pm	12/23/25	ESPN
New Orleans Bowl	Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss	5:30 pm	12/23/25	ESPN
Frisco Bowl	UNLV vs. Ohio	9 pm	12/23/25	ESPN
Hawaii Bowl	Cal vs. Hawaii	8 pm	12/24/25	ESPN
GameAbove Sports Bowl	Central Michigan vs. Northwestern	1 pm	12/26/25	ESPN
Rate Bowl	New Mexico vs. Minnesota	4:30 pm	12/26/25	ESPN
First Responder Bowl	FIU vs. UTSA	8 pm	12/26/25	ESPN
Military Bowl	Pitt vs. East Carolina	11 am	12/27/25	ESPN
Fenway Bowl	UConn vs. Army	2:15 pm	12/27/25	ESPN
Arizona Bowl	Miami (Ohio) vs. Fresno State	4:30 pm	12/27/25	CW
New Mexico Bowl	North Texas vs. San Diego State	5:45 pm	12/27/25	ESPN
Birmingham Bowl	Georgia Southern vs. App State	2 pm	12/29/25	ESPN
Independence Bowl	Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech	2 pm	12/30/25	ESPN
Armed Forces Bowl	Rice vs. Texas State	1 pm	1/2/26	ESPN
Liberty Bowl	Navy vs. Cincinnati	4:30 pm	1/2/26	ESPN