UT Martin vs West Virginia Picks and Prediction for Saturday, September 12, 2026

UT Martin visits West Virginia on Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, with the opening kickoff at 1:00 PM ET and televised on ESPN+. UT Martin is 1-1 after beating Charleston Southern 42-7 following a 36-24 loss to Central Arkansas. West Virginia is 1-0 after a 31-24 home win over Coastal Carolina. Check out our free NCAAF picks.

UT Martin Coming Off a Strong Defensive Performance

UT Martin averages 204 passing yards and 182.5 rushing yards, with the ground attack accounting for all eight of the Skyhawks' offensive touchdowns. Tate Surber has completed 16 of 23 passes for 222 yards with one interception, while Julian Calvez has thrown for 186 yards with two interceptions. Tommy Ansley has been the biggest scoring threat, rushing for 167 yards and five touchdowns on 26 attempts. Chris Franklin has added 108 yards and two scores on 26 carries, helping UT Martin average 5.1 yards per rushing attempt.

Makhia Sherrard leads the receiving group with six catches for 96 yards, while Anthony Carter has 62 yards on three receptions. UT Martin has yet to throw a touchdown pass, making the rushing attack especially important near the goal line. Defensively, Trey Cotton has 15 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown. Jamarcus Smith has 12 tackles, while Chris Wilson and Duston Chavis have 11 apiece. The Skyhawks have recorded two sacks and 11 passes defended.

Injuries: No injuries to report.

West Virginia Building Around a Powerful Ground Game

West Virginia gained 413 total yards in its 31-24 win over Coastal Carolina, with 281 coming on the ground. Cam Cook handled 30 carries for 142 yards and two touchdowns, including a 72-yard run. Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. added another major rushing threat with 103 yards and a touchdown on 20 attempts. The Mountaineers averaged 4.6 yards per carry across 61 rushing attempts, showing a clear commitment to keeping the offense on the ground and working through Cook and Hawkins.

Hawkins was also accurate when West Virginia went to the air, completing 11 of 14 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown without an interception. DJ Epps led the receivers with three catches for 36 yards, while Jaden Bray caught four passes for 29 yards. West Virginia's defense recorded five sacks, with Isaiah Patterson, Nate Gabriel, KJ Henson, Corey McIntyre Jr. and Jason Hall Jr. all getting to the quarterback. Patterson, Chams Diagne and Kamari Wilson each finished with six tackles. The Mountaineers also forced three fumbles.

Injuries: Wide receiver P. Strachan, tight ends R. Ward and C. Ball, and running back L. Autry are questionable with undisclosed injuries.

Key to the Game

UT Martin's defensive front has to find a way to limit West Virginia's two-part rushing attack. Cook and Hawkins combined for 245 yards and three touchdowns, and Hawkins' ability to run from the quarterback position adds another assignment to every rushing play. The Skyhawks have several active defenders around the line, but West Virginia's 61 rushing attempts show how willing the Mountaineers are to stay with the ground game. UT Martin's passing game has three interceptions without a touchdown pass, making another strong performance from the running backs important for sustaining drives and keeping West Virginia's offense off the field.

UT Martin vs West Virginia Game Pick

• West Virginia

West Virginia is the pick at home behind a rushing attack that produced 281 yards and three touchdowns against Coastal Carolina. Cam Cook rushed for 142 yards, while Michael Hawkins Jr. added 103 and also completed 11 of 14 passes without an interception. UT Martin has produced strong rushing numbers, but its passing game has three interceptions without a touchdown. West Virginia's defense also recorded five sacks and forced three fumbles, creating another clear advantage. The Mountaineers have the stronger combination of quarterback play, rushing production and defensive pressure.

UT Martin vs West Virginia Over/Under Pick

• Over

Over is the pick with both teams showing enough rushing production to create sustained scoring chances. UT Martin averages 182.5 yards on the ground and has scored eight rushing touchdowns, led by Tommy Ansley's five. West Virginia rushed for 281 yards and three scores against Coastal Carolina, while Hawkins also completed 78.6 percent of his passes. The Mountaineers allowed 24 points in that victory, so UT Martin has a path to contribute. West Virginia's rushing depth and Hawkins' dual-threat production should keep scoring chances available throughout Saturday's matchup.