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Matchup preview

Western Michigan vs Michigan

Western Michigan visit Michigan in Week 1. The model favors Michigan by 20.1. Win probability, the tale of the tape, and the all-time series, all from real data.

Win probability
11%
89%

Model win probability from SP+ ratings + home-field edge.

The read
Model analysis · September 2 · refreshed weekly

Model and market land in nearly the same place. SP+ separates these teams by 23 rating points, Michigan at 17 (rank 15) against Western Michigan at -6 (rank 90), and projects Michigan by 25.4 with a 94% win probability. The consensus line of -27.5 across two books implies 95%, a touch stronger than the model but inside the same tier. The total sits at 48.5. There is no meaningful disagreement to trade against on the moneyline: both methods price Western Michigan's upset near 5 to 6%.

Unit ranks reinforce the gap. Michigan grades #16 offense and #12 defense; Western Michigan checks in at #109 offense and #62 defense, with no side of the ball favoring the visitor. The series is short but lopsided, Michigan 2-0, and the last meeting in 2021 ended 47-14. Season simulations give Michigan 7.2 projected wins, a 21% Playoff rate and 1.5% title odds against a 1.9% market number, versus Western Michigan's 7 wins and 2.6% Playoff chance. One anomaly: the ProphetX exchange lists Western Michigan -4200 (implied 98%) and Michigan +1950 (implied 5%), inverting every other input and warranting caution before acting.

Model and consensus market agree on Michigan near 94 to 95%, and only the inverted ProphetX quotes stand out as a flag.

Matchup odds
Consensus line · 3 books
Spread
MICH -27.5
Total (O/U)
49.8
Favorite
MICH
Moneyline win probability (implied from the spread)

Real consensus line across 3 sportsbooks. Spread and total are the current market number; the win probabilities are implied from the spread.

Matchup odds price history
The market to win this game · daily prices, colored by the favorite
Western Michigan99%+93 ptsvsMichigan1%-93 pts
0%25%50%75%100%Western Michigan favoredMichigan favoredAug 19Aug 23Aug 27Aug 31Sep 4Sep 6

Real daily prices from the market to win this game, shown as Western Michigan's win price; Michigan's is 100 minus it (the same market's other side). Above the 50% line Western Michigan is favored, below it Michigan is, and each candle takes the favored team's color. Kalshi shows open-high-low-close candles (filled body closed up, hollow closed down). As of Sep 23.

Tale of the tape
Percentile vs FBS · 2025 stats, 2026 SP+
#80SP+SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.#21
#79FPIFPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.#20
1546EloElo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.1786
-Title oddsDe-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.0.9%
Western MichiganMichigansolid = better, faded = trailing
What these metrics mean
SP+. SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.
FPI. FPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.
Elo. Elo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.
Title odds. De-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.
Off PPA. PPA (Predicted Points Added): the average point value each play adds. Higher is better for offense, lower for defense.
Success. Success rate: the share of plays that stay on schedule (roughly 50% of needed yards on 1st down, 70% on 2nd, 100% on 3rd/4th). Higher is better.
Explosive. Explosiveness: the average value of a team's successful plays, i.e. how big its good plays are when they hit.
Yards/game. Total yards gained per game.
Success allowed. How often the defense allows an on-schedule play (enough yards for the down). Lower is better.
Havoc. Havoc rate: the share of plays where the defense makes a tackle for loss, forced fumble, interception, or pass breakup.
Yards allowed. Total yards allowed per game. Lower is better.
Efficiency profile
Percentile vs FBS · 2025
Recent series
Michigan lead 2-0
Michigan have won the last 2
20182021
Head to head
Every meeting in our records
2021
47-14
Michigan
at Michigan
2018
49-3
Michigan
at Michigan
More Week 1 matchups
Model previews for the rest of the slate
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I trade the Western Michigan vs Michigan game?

Kalshi lists winner markets for college football games. Sign up with code FADE (trade $25, get up to $500), open the Western Michigan vs Michigan market when it posts, and buy YES on your side; the price in cents equals the market's implied win probability. You can sell before kickoff or settlement at the current price.

When do Western Michigan and Michigan play?

Week 1 of 2026, on Sep 5, 2026 at Michigan.

Who is favored?

The model projects Michigan by 20.1 (89% win probability), from SP+ ratings.

What is the all-time series?

Michigan lead 2-0 over the meetings in our records.

Full schedule → · Both teams' playoff odds, from 10,000 simulations →

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