If you want more Action Network content, be sure to add us as a preferred source on Google .
The UMass Minutemen take on the Sacramento State Hornets in Sacramento, CA. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
UMass is favored by -4.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -200. The total is set at 48.5 points.
Here's my UMass vs. Sacramento State predictionand college football pick for Saturday, September 26, 2026.
UMass vs. Sacramento State Pick: Under (Play to 48)
My Sacramento State vs. UMass best betis on the under. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page .
UMass vs Sacramento State point spread: UMass -4.5 (-110), Sacramento State +4.5 (-110)
UMass vs Sacramento State over/under: 48.5 (-110o / -110u)
UMass vs Sacramento State moneyline: UMass -200, Sacramento State +162
UMass has been the talk of the college football world after starting the season 3-0, including a 37-21 thrashing of Rutgers on the road in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the final score would indicate.
A pair of wins over FCS-level Sacred Heart and Stonehill have validated that the performance in the opener was no fluke, and the Minutemen have already outpaced preseason expectations by exceeding their posted regular-season win total (2.5).
William "Pop" Watson III has been a game changer at quarterback while giving UMass a clear vision of what this unit wants to accomplish.
Watson has been such an effective passer, completing 75% of his passes with five touchdown passes, and he's made much quicker and smarter decisions with the football than prior UMass quarterbacks.
The ground game features Elijah Faulkner and Curtis Kimmons IV, who are averaging a combined 5.5 yards per rushing attempt.
The attack is still rush-heavy, but T.Y. Harding has become a receiving threat while averaging 17.7 yards per catch.
The offensive line is allowing significantly less havoc and has been instrumental in paving the way for the offensive success.
Ultimately, UMass has scored 36 points or more in every game so far this season.
The defense has also experienced a turnaround, as UMass has been completely dominant during this three-game winning streak. The defensive line is making plays in the backfield and has bolstered a front that's allowing just 67 rushing yards per game and 2.1 yards per rushing attempt.
Those metrics aren't just FCS-opponent aided, as their best performance was against Rutgers, which ran for just 1.2 yards per carry against the Minutemen.
Remarkably, UMass has eight takeaways already this season, and the stop unit is allowing just 22% successful third-down conversions against it.
This is a strong group that's going to help UMass win a ton of games this season in the MAC.
Sacramento State has struggled during its transition from the FCS to FBS football, with its lone win coming against HBCU bottom-feeder Mississippi Valley State .
Injuries have contributed to the decay in performance, and the Hornets have been down big at the half in each of their three games against FBS competition this season. This team isn't quite equipped to win a lot of football games at this level this season, and the build will take time.
The Sacramento State offense has turned to Jackson Sharman at quarterback, who threw the ball effectively in the second half against an apathetic North Dakota State defense, one that looked like it just wanted to go home after building a 28-0 lead three minutes into the second quarter.
Sharman threw for 238 yards with a late touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
The ground game is still trying to sort itself out, and Sacramento State struggles to register explosive plays while running the football.
The Hornets ran for just 90 yards against North Dakota State and are expected to struggle against a feisty UMass front that hasn't allowed much success when its opponents have tried to run.
Situational execution on third down and in the red zone has also been a struggle. The Hornets have converted just 31% on third down, with just one of five red zone trips resulting in a touchdown against FBS competition.
The defense has struggled each of the last two weeks against the power run games of Fresno State and North Dakota State. It's surrendered a combined 60 points in the first half against those opponents.
Sacramento State has been outscored 81-13 in the first half against FBS competition this season while allowing 901 first-half yards over those three games.
The numbers look okay when you factor in the 52-0 victory over Mississippi Valley State, but that truly needs to be factored out, as the Delta Devils are so much worse than anyone the Hornets will play all season.
This defense is undersized and struggles to prevent teams from moving the ball methodically, although the performance was better in the second half last week.
This line opened with UMass a 6.5-point favorite and Sacramento State has taken money, driving this line down to UMass -3.5.
The total sits at 48.5, and I like the under in this matchup.
UMass is going to run the ball in this matchup, likely at a 2:1 clip, as it has all season. The ground attack will have success, but the Minutemen will have a tougher time moving the football than they did the last couple of weeks while facing FCS opponents.
I expect the ground game to help UMass extend drives and move the ball methodically, but its offensive operating tempo is going to be slow. UMass is running just 54 plays per game, and going on the road for the conference opener, we should see a very slow pace in this one.
The Sacramento State defense actually did some nice things last week in the second half against North Dakota State, and this unit should be able to prevent the explosives and avoid a deep hole in the first half.
While there won't be a tremendous amount of pressure put on Watson, this defense should be able to rise up on third down and secure drive-stopping plays, forcing UMass to punt.
I wouldn't be stunned to see this turn into a field position game. Each of these teams has attempted just four separate fourth-down conversion attempts, and we do have a matchup of fairly conservative coaches.
I would expect long, methodical drives with each defense stepping up to force punts or field goal attempts in what should amount to a lower-scoring game.
Both of these offenses have struggled converting in the red zone, with Sacramento State settling for four red zone field goals and UMass settling for five.
With the slower pace, decent red zone defense and longer drives expected, I like the under in this game.
Pick: Under (Play to 48)
Be sure to download the Action Network app for more picks and analysis!
