2025 NCAA College Football Bowl Week 2 Picks

NCAA College Football Bowl Week 2 Picks - Early Games

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Fearless Rick & Coin Flip NCAA Bowl Week 2 Early Games

All times Eastern

Click here for late games.

Last Week’s Results: Rick: 2-8; Flip: 7-3
Cumulative Results: Rick: 78-110-6; Flip: 100-88-6

Tuesday, December 23

Boca Raton Bowl
Toledo vs Louisville (-12.5, 43.5) 2:00 pm (ESPN) - There’s plenty to like about 8-4 Louisville, especially their 34-27 win September 27 at Pitt, the 24-21 win at Miami, October 17 and their return to form - after three straight losses - in their rivalry game, 41-0 over Kentucky to close out the regular season.

Toledo is no stranger to bowl games, nor to the ACC. Last season, despite a 7-5 record they topped Pitt, 48-46, in a 6 overtime classic. In 2022, they took down favored Liberty, 21-19, and in 2023, lost by a point to Wyoming in the Arizona Bowl. They normally come ready to play. This season should be no different. The Rockets come to Boca off four straight wins in which they allowed a total of 18 points. Impressive.

Coin Flip: Louisville

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Rockets 24 Cardinals 20

New Orleans Bowl
Western Kentucky vs Southern Miss (-3, 58) 5:30 pm (ESPN) - The Hilltoppers played a daunting schedule in 2025, which concluded with a loss to Jacksonville State, denying them of a shot at the CUSA Championship game (won by Kennesaw State). Loaded offensively, Western Kentucky should provide plenty of excitement in the Big Easy.

Southern Miss was 7-2 going into the final three games of the regular season, but defensive miscues resulted in three straight losses in which they allowed a total of 111 points to Texas State, South Alabama and Troy, finishing 5-3 in Sun Belt play. They’ve had time to regroup, but the Golden Eagles may find the Hilltoppers a little too much to handle.

Coin Flip: Western Kentucky

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Hilltoppers 38 Golden Eagles 24

Frisco Bowl
UNLV (-6.5, 67) vs Ohio 8:00 pm (ESPN) - UNLV’s Rebels (10-3, 6-2) lost twice to Boise State, once in the MWC championship, 38-21, and to New Mexico, 40-35. Other than that, they were an offensive powerhouse, tallying 38 or more points nine times, twice topping 50.

The Ohio Bobcats (8-4, 6-2) were only blown out once, a 37-9 loss at Ohio State. Their other three losses were to Rutgers, 34-31, in their opener, 20-14, at Ball State, and 17-13 to MAC champion, Western Michigan. Their defense should keep this one close enough for a thriller of a finish.

Coin Flip: UNLV

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Bobcats 30 Rebels 27

Wednesday, December 24

Hawaii Bowl
California vs Hawaii (-1.5, 51.5) 8:00 pm (ESPN) - The Golden Bears head out to the islands sporting a 7-5 record with a 4-4 mark in the ACC. This is a very up-and-down team with losses to the likes of San Diego State (34-0), Stanford (31-10), but late season wins over Louisville (29-26, OT) and SMU (38-35). Their offense is serviceable; defense, like Swiss cheese.

(8-4) Hawaii should be able to exploit Cal’s error-prone defense. The Rainbow Warriors were 6-1 at home this season.

Coin Flip: Hawaii

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Rainbow Warriors 31 Golden Bears 21

Friday, December 28

GameAbove Sports Bowl
Central Michigan vs Northwestern (-10.5, 44) 1:00 pm (ESPN) - For a 6-6 team, Northwestern isn’t all that bad. Coming out of the Big Ten with a 4-5 record, three of their losses were to ranked foes - Oregon, Michigan, USC. They have enough offense to be competitive against almost anybody, but the defense is questionable.

The Chippewas went 5-3 in the physical Mid-American conference and were 7-5 overall. They were buried by Pitt, 45-17, and Michigan, 65-3, but that was back in September. Since then, they’re 6-3, though they do seem vulnerable to power conference teams. Look for the Wildcats to prevail in a low-scoring affair.

Coin Flip: Central Michigan

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Wildcats 27 Chippewas 13

Rate Bowl
New Mexico vs Minnesota (-1.5, 44) 4:30 pm (ESPN) - The Golden Gophers have won eight straight bowl games, so rest assured the veteran players won’t want that streak to end against a quality Mountain West squad like New Mexico. At 5-4 in the Big Ten and 7-5 overall, they should be able to hold their own.

Somehow, the Lobos didn’t get to play in the MWC championship, despite beating UNLV and finishing with six straight wins. They were 9-3 overall and 6-2 in conference and were competitive in a 35-28 loss to San Jose State. This should be a solid game with plenty of action. New Mexico should surprise.

Coin Flip: New Mexico

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Lobos 26 Golden Gophers 14

First Responder Bowl
Florida International vs UTSA (-5.5, 59.5) 8:00 pm (ESPN) - The Panthers of Florida International scored 351 points, allowed 333, and finished 7-5 overall and 5-3 in C-USA.

UTSA scored 405, allowed 355, finished 6-6 overall and 4-4 in the American conference. Wagering on this game is for only the depraved gamblers, but in what appears to be an even match-up, take the points.

Coin Flip: Florida International

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Roadrunners 34 Panthers 29

Click here for late games.

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