Michigan vs UTEP Prediction: Can the Wolverines Open It Up?
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Michigan hasn’t given its fans any chance to breathe easily so far, with a controversial win over Western Michigan and a gut-check win over Oklahoma.
But 2-0 doesn’t care where 2-0 came from, and now it’s time top open it up and see what the offense can do against a UTEP (1-1) team that has a fun offense, but lost 51-0 to the same Sooner team the Wolverines just shut down.
Michigan vs UTEP: Quick Hits
- It’s Big Ten time up next for Michigan with Iowa before the Little Brown Jug game trip to Minnesota.
- UTEP collects its paycheck, hosts Oregon State, and then it dives into its new life in the Mountain West with a trip to New Mexico.
- It’s the first time these two programs have ever met. It’s the fifth time UTEP has played a Big Ten team – it lost the other four.
How To Watch Michigan vs UTEP
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: BTN
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
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Why UTEP Will Win
The Miners are obviously overmatched, but they’re a fun team with a fun coach in Scotty Walden who’ll try turning it loose.
They have to hope Michigan is unfocused in this huge sandwich game moment after OU and before Iowa. That, and the offense has to do what it does and go fast and fearless. EJ Colson is a good baller of a quarterback, and there will be enough of a tempo to keep things moving.
Why Michigan Will Win
Everything will be just fine as long as the defense can maintain the intensity it showed against Oklahoma.
The Miner offense might be fun, but when it struggles, it goes fast and then gets off the field in a hurry. There’s no real threat of the UTEP attack going off – the Wolverine defense will clean up any messes – so this is when Bryce Underwood has to open it up.
He made that throw against Western Michigan, and he played a way better game against Oklahoma than the overall stats might suggest – his 87 rushing yards and score were the difference. Now, just to quiet down the noise, he needs to make the passing game go.
Michigan vs UTEP Prediction, Betting Lines
Oklahoma’s John Mateer hit 65% of his passes for 225 yards and three scores against UTEP. If Underwood can come up with anything close to that through the air, consider the game a success.
The Wolverines can name their score. They’ll open it up with a bruising, efficient drive and keep rolling from there.
Michigan 48, UTEP 3
Latest Consensus Line: Michigan -34.5, o/u: 49.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 3.5
Must See Rating (out of 5): 2
Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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