By: Jesse Germonprez (MICH) and Amirah Razman (STL)
Our weekly breakdowns associated with UFL games will follow the format of both correspondents providing a brief write-up of who they think holds the advantage at each position group on the field. This will be followed up with a brief prediction of how the game will turn out, followed by a score prediction. Las Vegas betting odds will be provided, along with how the correspondents would play their money when evaluating the match-up.
To see previous iterations of The Shakedown (and more) from this season, check out the AFN News Page!
The Michigan Panthers head to St. Louis this Saturday to take on the Battlehawks at The Dome at America’s Center. Kickoff is set for 7 PM ET in a game that could shake up the UFL standings. Michigan is fresh off a 27-9 win over Memphis—by far their most complete performance of the season. St. Louis, meanwhile, is coming off back-to-back losses to D.C. and Arlington. Let’s break down where these two teams stand heading into Saturday night.
Quarterbacks
Jesse Germonprez (MICH)
Bryce Perkins has fully seized control of Michigan’s offense. He’s efficient, mobile, and most importantly, consistent. He went 15-for-22 with 200 yards and 2 TDs last week. Spreading the ball to seven different receivers, he added 45 yards on the ground. His RPO game forces defenders to hesitate, and his sleight of hand at the mesh point is NFL-caliber.
St. Louis, on the other hand, is suddenly in quarterback limbo. Wilkins didn’t complete a pass before exiting the Week 4 loss. Backup Max Duggan struggled mightily—finishing 8-of-17 for just 78 yards and two picks. His QBR sat at 20.8. St. Louis did sign spring football veteran Brandon Silvers this week, so if he isn’t a factor, Michigan should be in a good place.
Advantage: Michigan Panthers
Amirah Razman (STL)
It was a rough outing for the Battlehawks last week. Manny Wilkins went down with what appeared to be an Achilles injury early in the first quarter. Wilkins was placed on IR this week, and it’s unknown whether he has a chance to return this season. Wilkins’ injury thrusted Max Duggan into the QB1 limelight, and he struggled greatly. He recorded 78 yards and 2 interceptions last week, a game filled with far too many turnovers for St. Louis. I wouldn’t count Duggan out yet, but it’s not safe to say that St. Louis has some stability at the quarterback position.
Michigan, on the other hand, has also faced some doubts at quarterback. They’ve gone back and forth between Bryce Perkins and Danny Etling, with Perkins exhibiting the better of the Panthers’ quarterback talents. Perkins had two touchdowns for 200 yards in Michigan’s victory over Memphis. He is clearly the quarterback with more stability and is able to move the ball faster. Factoring in St. Louis’ new instability at the quarterback position, I give Michigan the clear advantage.
Advantage: Michigan Panthers
Running Backs
Jesse Germonprez (MICH)
St. Louis has shown all season they can run the ball. Jacob Saylors and the backfield have been a consistent bright spot, and when they’re able to stay on schedule, this offense can chew up yardage and control tempo. But last week against Arlington, early pressure threw everything off. The Battlehawks ran it 37 times and managed just 122 yards—an average of 3.3 per carry. Saylors led the way with 61 yards on 20 carries, and no run went longer than 9 yards. Once they fell behind, the rhythm was gone.
Michigan, on the other hand, is quietly getting quality production even without their top back. With Matt Colburn on IR, the Panthers leaned on Nate McCrary and Toa Taua—both finding the end zone last week. Taua brought vision and balance, while McCrary ran like a wildman. Add in chunk gains from Perkins on scrambles, and this rushing attack is doing more than holding its own. They averaged over 5 yards per carry in Week 4 and used the ground game to control the pace.
Advantage: St. Louis Battlehawks
Amirah Razman (STL)
St. Louis continues to bolster key talent in the running back position. Jacob Saylors was one of the few bright spots in last week’s game, continuing to run the ball by volume. Despite their struggles on offense, Saylors recorded 20 rushing attempts for 61 yards last week. While he hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 2, Saylors continues to be a dynamic player in the Battlehawks’ run game. That should not change heading into this week’s match-up.
Advantage: St. Louis Battlehawks
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Jesse Germonprez (MICH)
St. Louis has weapons, and this week they might get their biggest one back. Hakeem Butler—one of the league’s top targets—appears on track to return after missing time. His size and physicality give this offense a legitimate red zone and possession threat. Darby, Mims, and Jennings Jr. round out a capable group, but no one topped 26 receiving yards last week. Drops also played a factor, with Pearson struggling to secure catchable balls. If Butler returns and Duggan settles in, this unit could bounce back.
On the flip side, Michigan’s pass catchers continue to grow into their roles. Seven different players recorded receptions last week. Jalen Wydermyer and Jaylon Moore hauled in their first touchdowns of the season. Wydermyer continues to shine in the red zone, while Cole Hikutini’s sideline snag was one of the cleanest catches of the UFL season so far. The tight ends aren’t just complimentary—they’re central to the scheme now. The Panthers are doing a great job creating mismatches across the field.
Advantage: Push
Amirah Razman (STL)
Hakeem Butler returns this week for the Battlehawks after spending 2 weeks dealing with a hamstring injury. This is a sigh of relief for Battlehawks fans at a time where the team probably needs Butler the most. Jahcour Pearson struggled last week, making a few critical drops that could’ve resulted in scoring plays. These drops have hurt the Battlehawks badly. Pearson, also the team’s punt returner, fumbled a return against Arlington, resulting in a scoring drive for the Renegades. They need to get it together this week if they have any chance of being successful offensively.
Butler has only had one target this season, but the Battlehawks should be in good hands now that he’s back. Michigan has a strong WR/TE room, but they have been quiet recently.
Advantage: St. Louis Battlehawks
Offensive Line
Jesse Germonprez (MICH)
Michigan’s front five dominated last week—only one sack allowed, 169 rushing yards created, and clean pockets throughout. Ryan Nelson was steady on the left side, while Cole Cabral and Chim Okorafor have quietly developed into a strong tandem on the right. Their communication and chemistry show up in the details—passing off twists, sealing the edge, and adjusting protections mid-play. In the middle, Noah Johnson continues to anchor the line and drive defenders off the ball.
St. Louis, meanwhile, hasn’t looked like their usual self in the trenches. They’re typically reliable in pass protection, but over the past two games they’ve struggled to keep their quarterback clean. The run game hasn’t had much space to work with, either. That said, they’re expected to get some help this week with a key piece returning from injury. If they can get back to basics, this group has the tools to be much better than what they’ve shown.
Advantage: Michigan Panthers
Amirah Razman (STL)
The Battlehawks’ offensive line has had it rough the past couple weeks, struggling against two dominant defenses. STL bolsters a strong offensive line and is typically good at protecting the quarterback. They make some explosive plays, but the past couple weeks have been anything but explosive. However, Abdul Beecham returns for STL this week, which will be a much needed boost for their struggling O-Line. Michigan has shown some promise on offense, so it won’t be surprising if their solid showing continues this week. Given both teams’ strengths offensively (despite the lack thereof from STL recently), it’s hard to tell who truly has the advantage here.
Advantage: Push
Defensive Line
Jesse Germonprez (MICH)
Michigan’s defensive front is clicking last week. Walter Palmore opened last week with a third-down sack, and Garrett Marino continues to bring high-motor energy in the middle. But the tone was set by Kenny Willekes, who quietly dominated the edge—stuffing runs, forcing plays back inside, and shutting down any perimeter action Memphis tried to create. His discipline and gap control are making life easier for the rest of the front seven.
St. Louis’ didn’t register a sack last week and struggled to control the line of scrimmage on early downs. This week, they’ll have their hands full on the edge—not just with Michigan’s physical run game, but with Bryce Perkins getting more comfortable in the read-option. If they can’t contain the mesh point and set the edge, it could open up the Panthers offense.
Advantage: Michigan Panthers
Amirah Razman (STL)
STL’s defensive line has been great in recent weeks. Last week, however, they faced some adversity against a Renegades offense that wasn’t doing much. With that being said, there were still some critical defensive stops made. STL remains a menace defensively, and I expect it to stay this way. They’ll have to figure out a way to contain Bryce Perkins and Samson Nacua, but they have the goods to get it done.
Advantage: St. Louis Battlehawks
Linebackers
Jesse Germonprez (MICH)
Frank Ginda continues to anchor a fast, physical linebacker group for Michigan. He posted 7 tackles and a half sack last week, setting the tone in the middle. Darius Mu’tin added solid support, finishing with 5 total tackles (4 solo) and a tackle for loss. He showed quick reads and clean pursuit when Memphis tried to bounce runs outside.
St. Louis got a spark from Willie Harvey, who returned a pick-six to close the gap late against Arlington. Pita Taumoepenu also flashed throughout the game, generating pressure off the edge and playing with active hands in traffic. This unit has the tools to make impact plays, but they’ll need to bring consistency to help balance out the uncertainty on offense.
Advantage: Michigan Panthers
Amirah Razman (STL)
Willie Harvey became the star of the show last week after an important third-quarter pick-six. Pita Taumoepenu continued to be a legitimate threat to offenses, recording two tackles and credited for a half-sack. STL’s linebacker corps continues to hold strong and make big, critical stops when it matters the most.
Advantage: St. Louis Battlehawks
Defensive Backs
Jesse Germonprez (MICH)
Michigan’s secondary continues to hold up thanks to solid tackling and tight coverage behind a productive front. Arnold Tarpley’s sideline interception last week was one of the plays of the game. He adeptly tracked a tipped ball, scooping it just before it hit the turf. Kedrick Whitehead quietly led the group with 8 total tackles (4 solo), and Kai Nacua brought his usual physicality, finishing with 6 total and 3 solo tackles. This unit plays fast, wraps up well, and rarely gets caught out of position.
St. Louis’s DBs have talent but have been asked to do a lot the past two weeks. With the offense turning it over and struggling to flip the field, the defense faces a lot of short-field situations. Still, they’ve avoided giving up explosive plays and continue to battle. Willie Harvey was a bright spot again, finishing with 8 tackles (3 solo), a pass deflection, and an interception return for the team’s only touchdown in week 4.
Advantage: Push
Amirah Razman (STL)
STL’s defense out in the secondary has been dominant for the most part, blocking catches and making stops when it matters. However, they struggled late in the game, seemingly forgetting how to make tackles. It’s not like those struggles would’ve done much anyways — STL already wasn’t doing much offensively. However, I expect them to bounce back next week as they face a Michigan offense that has fared well this season.
Advantage: St. Louis Battlehawks
Win and Score Predictions
Jesse Germonprez (MICH)
Advantage Count: Michigan Panthers (4), St. Louis Battlehawks (1), Push (2)
Both teams are coming in bruised, but Michigan has the steadier hand right now. The Panthers are riding momentum, playing with confidence at the quarterback position, and getting contributions across the board—even without key pieces like Colburn. Meanwhile, St. Louis is trying to stabilize after two tough losses, and they’re still adjusting to life without Manny Wilkins.
The Battlehawks will keep it competitive—especially with the home crowd behind them—but unless they generate turnovers or break a special teams play, Michigan’s balance and ball control should carry the day. Michigan, 23-16.
Amirah Razman (STL)
Advantage Count: St. Louis Battlehawks (5), Michigan Panthers (1), Push (1)
This is a critical, must win game for St. Louis. Win this one, and Max Duggan might just be the new King of St. Louis. Lose this one, and St. Louis will be below .500 for the first time since the XFL revival, and there will be a lot of bitter fans. St. Louis will likely continue to struggle offensively, but they should be able to find their groove later on. I haven’t stopped believing in this team, which is why I think St. Louis will bounce back this week and get their 3rd win of the season. St. Louis, 25-20.
Betting Predictions
Line: Panthers (-2.5) O/U: 37.5
Jesse Germonprez (MICH)
The Panthers are slight favorites on the road. St. Louis is banged up and still adjusting without Wilkins, while Michigan is finding rhythm with Perkins and winning up front. It won’t be a shootout, but it’ll be physical. My bet would be on the Michigan money line.
Amirah Razman (STL)
Despite St. Louis’ lack of explosive scoring plays recently, I do believe there will be points scored, but I would take the under. Michigan has a good offense under Bryce Perkins, but St. Louis’ defense will come in aggressive. It’s a toss up right now, but St. Louis will likely win outright.