Maryland vs. Rutgers, Picks, Odds, Preview and Prediction, Saturday, November 8, 2025
Use Code WWWC Two struggling Big 10 teams with bowl aspirations meet on Saturday afternoon when Maryland (4-4, 1-4 B10) meets Rutgers (4-5, 1-4 B10) from Piscataway, N.J. at 2:30pmET on FS1. Who will win this Maryland vs. Rutgers prediction and wind up just one game from being bowl-eligible? Last season, Rutgers won this matchup on the road 31-17 as a 4-point underdog. Don’t get penalized! Increase your bankroll with our College Football Betting Picks!
Maryland continues to slump
The Terps lost three straight games to Washington, Nebraska, and UCLA before earning their second bye week. Unfortunately for Maryland, their performance after bye weeks has become predictable under head coach Mike Locksley (0-11). While the Terps got off to a great start after their first bye week, starting against Washington before falling apart 24-20. They wound up covering the game, but did not cover last Saturday after their second bye against No. 2 Indiana. The game was competitive for about a quarter-and-a-half before the Hoosiers went into turbo mode and blew out the Terps, 55-10, from a sold-out SECU Stadium in College Park.
Indiana dominated this game, possessing the ball for over 40 minutes, while it was a tough day at the office for freshman QB Malik Washington. The talented 6-5 freshman was off, completing just 16 of 31 for 242 yards with a TD and a pick, while Maryland's dismal ground attack did not help (37 yards).
The Terps head into this game having lost four straight, still with potential to become bowl eligible, but will need to win two of their next four with Illinois on the road, Michigan at home and Michigan State to end the season.
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Maryland is a little banged up coming into this game, but they are somewhat healthy after two byes. Their offense has been extremely reliant on Washington (249.6ypg passing), because they can't run the ball consistently (95ypg). On defense, the Terps have been underwhelming after a strong start due to their turnover margin, which still ranks 17th at a +7 turnover margin. They rank 88th with 58.6 penalty yards per game, 82nd against the run (154.6ypg) and 77th against the pass (226.3ypg).
One of Maryland's top defensive lineman, Zahir Mathis (undisclosed) is questionable. The freshman has 4.5 sacks on the season.
Scarlet Knights can't get a winning streak going
Rutgers, like Maryland, had a soft early schedule, defeating Ohio (34-31), Miami OH (45-17) and FCS Norfolk State (60-10) before losing four straight Big 10 games. They finally had a conference win when they edged Purdue 27-24 on Oct. 25 before falling to Illinois on the road the following week, 35-13. Athan Kaliakmanis threw for 253 yards with a TD, but struggled with accuracy (25 of 45). K.J. Duff (6-6, 225) caught nine passes for 93 yards and a TD to lead the offense. The Scarlet Knights rushed for just 59 yards and allowed 210 from the Illini. Duff now has 51 catches and 854 yards with six TDs to lead the team.
“Give credit to Illinois. We didn't coach well enough and didn't play well enough, and it starts with me," said Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. “We're going to get on a plane, go home, and fix what we can fix.”
Kaliakmanis is completing 62.1% of his passes for 2,476 yards with 13 TD and five picks. The Minnesota transfer has 31 TDs and 12 picks with Rutgers in his two seasons at Piscataway.
Rutgers is averaging 413 yards per game (47th) and 282.8 yards per game passing (21st). Like Maryland, they also struggle on the ground (130.6ypg). On defense, they are dismal. The Scarlet Knights allow 428 yards per game to rank 121 in FBS and 243.6 yards per game in the air. They also rank 112th in defensive third-down percentage, allowing opponents to convert 43.2%.
WR Ian Strong (undisclosed) is questionable for this game. He is second on the team with 43 catches and 628 yards receiving.
Maryland vs. Rutgers Prediction
Spread Pick for Maryland vs. Rutgers
- Maryland +1.5 (4 units)
Maryland is the better team despite their losing streak. Considering their first-half success, taking Maryland in the first half is probably not a bad idea. In head-to-head meetings, Maryland has won and covered three of the last four games. What concerns me about Rutgers is their awful pass defense, especially against the pass. The weather is supposed to be in the sixties with very little wind so it's perfect for throwing the ball. Maryland QB Malik Washington faced one of the nation's best defenses last week against Indiana. He'll bounce back against one of the worst defenses for any Power 4 program this week.
Over/Under pick for Maryland vs. Rutgers
- Under 58.5 (4 units)
While neither defense is dominant, Maryland has a strong pass rush and it forces turnovers. They've gone under in three of their last five games and allowed an average of 15 points on the road. Despite their defensive issues, Rutgers has gone under in two straight and three of their last four. Their offfense can't get it done against good defense, as they've averaged just 20.8 points per game against conference foes and
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