The Central Michigan Chippewas will battle the Northwestern Wildcats in the 2025 GameAbove Sports Bowl on Friday afternoon. Both teams closed out their regular seasons on Nov. 29, with Central Michigan falling 21-3 to Toledo, while Northwestern was beaten 20-13 at Illinois. The Chippewas (7-5), who finished fifth in the MAC at 5-3, have won two of three. The Wildcats (6-6), who tied for 10th in the Big Ten at 4-5, have lost four of their last five. 

Kickoff from Ford Field in Detroit is at 1 p.m. ET. Northwestern leads the all-time series 1-0, winning the only meeting 30-25 in 2010. The Wildcats are 10.5-point favorites in the latest Central Michigan vs. Northwestern odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 43.5 via SportsLine consensus. Before making any Northwestern vs. Central Michigan picks, check out the college football predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model. 

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The model simulates every FBS game 10,000 times, and it is 31-19 on its top-rated college football money-line picks since the beginning of the 2024 season. 

Now, the model has set its sights on Central Michigan vs. Northwestern. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the FBS college football odds and trends for Northwestern vs. Central Michigan:

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How to make Central Michigan vs. Northwestern picks

After 10,000 simulations of this matchup, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (43.5). The Over has hit in three of Central Michigan’s last five games, and in four of Northwestern’s last five. 

The model has Central Michigan running backs Nahree Biggins, Brock Townsend and Trey Cornist combining to rush for more than 150 yards and one touchdown, while Northwestern quarterback Preston Stone will throw for more than 225 yards and two touchdowns. 

The teams are projected to combine for 46 points as the Over clears in more than 50% of simulations. 

The model also says that one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can see the model’s pick at SportsLine.  

So who wins Northwestern vs. Central Michigan, and which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Central Michigan vs. Northwestern spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that’s up on its top-ranked money-line picks, and find out.