Kennesaw State and Western Michigan went from losing their first few games of the season to winning Group of Five conferences and appearing in a bowl game.
To start the year, Kennesaw State (10-3) lost to Wake Forest 10-9 and then fell in a blowout to Indiana. The Owls then won 10 of their next 11 games. They were 7-1 in Conference USA play, with their only loss being against Jacksonville State, the CUSA champion in 2024.
But led by Group of Five Coach of the Year Jerry Mack, the Owls got a rematch with the Gamecocks and were triumphant, winning 19-15. They were ranked 14th in the final HERO Sports Group of Five Top 25 media poll.
Western Michigan didn’t exactly look like it would be in contention for a MAC title when the Broncos started the season 0-3, losing to Michigan State, North Texas, and Illinois. But WMU (9-4) has only lost one more game since then.
The Broncos, with Lance Taylor as their head coach, were 7-1 in league play with their only loss being against Miami (Ohio). But they got even with the RedHawks in a rematch in the MAC Championship game and won the league title. They’re just one spot above Kennesaw State in the G5 Top 25 at No. 13.
And now both teams want to finish the 2025 season with a bowl win.
Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan Betting Odds
Western Michigan is a -3.5 college football betting odds favorite against Kennesaw State, with the Over/Under being 47.5 as of this writing. The moneyline for Kennesaw State is +140, while it’s -170 for Western Michigan.
Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan On TV
The matchup between Kennesaw State and Western Michigan will be televised on ESPN.
The game will kick off at 11 a.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 19. The contest is taking place at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina.
Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan 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.
