Maryland vs. Wisconsin Picks and Prediction, Saturday, September 20, 2025

It’s a Big Ten opener for both teams on Saturday, Sept. 20. Read our Maryland vs Wisconsin prediction along with our other NCAAF Betting Picks! The Terrapins are 3-0 and they have secured some easy wins coming into this matchup. All three of their wins have come from either the FCS or Group of Five ranks. Wisconsin is 2-1 as they hold victories over Miami (OH) and Middle Tennessee. The Badgers are coming off of a big loss to No. 19 Alabama on the road last week. These two conference foes will kick things off in Camp Randall Stadium at 12 P.M. EST.

Maryland set for first road test

Maryland is 3-0 this season, coming into their first road game of the year. The Terrapins opened the season with wins over Florida Atlantic by 32 points and an 11-point win over Northern Illinois. This game against Wisconsin is by far and away the toughest test for the Terrapins so far in 2025.

In their last game, the Terrapins defeated FCS Towson 44-17 on Saturday, Sept. 13. Maryland was never in upset territory as they led 41-0 with less than 12 minutes to play in the third quarter. The Terrapins cruised to an easy win thanks to early production in the first half.

Freshman quarterback Malik Washington threw for 261 yards on 16-for-22 passing with one touchdown and an interception. Running back Iverson Howard rushed for 60 yards on 15 carries, too. Wide receiver Octavian Smith Jr. finished with a team-high 103 yards on four catches, too.

Washington has thrown for 773 yards and has completed 62% of his passes this season. He’s thrown six touchdowns and an interception. DeJuan Williams leads the running back room with 121 rushing yards and a score.

On defense, Maryland is led by Daniel Wingate with 28 tackles. The Terrapins hold 10 total sacks with Sidney Stewart leading the way with three of them. The defense has also forced seven interceptions and a fumble recovery.

"We all know winning on the road in the Big 10 is hard,” Maryland head coach Mike Locksley said. "It's tough to do week in and week out for many of the young guys when they travel to Madison.”

Maryland is averaging 34.3 points per game which ranks 55th in the league. They are the 38th-ranked passing offense, going for 266 yards through the air. The Terrapins are rushing for 116 yards per game on the groun,d placing them 114th in the nation.

On defense, Maryland is allowing 11 points per game, ranking 21st in the country. They are the 60th-ranked pass defense, allowing 199 yards per game through the air. The Terrapins are also the 38th-ranked rush defense, giving gap 103 yards per game.

Maryland is 1-2 against the spread this season. They have been favored in every game this season. They covered as a 14.5-point favorite versus Florida Atlantic. The Terrapins followed it by failing to cover against Northern Illinois and Towson. The under is 2-1 during Maryland games this season.

Quarterback issues remain for Wisconsin

Wisconsin is 2-1 through the first few weeks of the season. The Badgers earned a 17-point win over Miami (OH) in Week 1. They followed it with a 42-10 win over Middle Tennessee, where a second-half push helped them secure an easy win.

In their last game, the Badgers lost 38-14 to No. 19 Alabama on Saturday, Sept. 13. Wisconsin never had a lead in the game as they trailed 28-0 in the third quarter. Quarterback Danny O’Neil threw for 117 yards on 11-for-17 passing. He tossed one touchdown and was intercepted twice.

Against Alabama, the rushing attack went for just 92 yards. No player had more than 26 yards in the loss. Darrion Dupree finished with a team-high 26 yards on seven carries. His longest rush was just 5 yards. Wisconsin’s defense allowed 545 yards to the Crimson Tide.

On the season, O’Neil has thrown for 520 yards and has completed 73% of his passes. He has five touchdowns and four picks this year. O’Neil was the backup quarterback coming into this season as Billy Edwards Jr. won the job. Edwards was injured in the first game and hasn’t been back since. He has practiced during this week and is questionable to play. Edwards was a former member of Maryland, so this will be a big game for him.

“I think that anytime a guy plays their former team it’s an emotional thing,” Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell said about Edwards. “It’s a difficult thing. I’ve had it several times all the way back from five years ago. And so, it’s always something where I say ‘look, we’re not going to overlook this. We’re going to communicate and talk about this.’ It’s not gonna go away either. Look, Billy’s mature and he’s obviously an older guy that’s been through a lot of things.”

Wisconsin is passing for 196 yards per game which ranks 91st in the nation. They are also the 91st-ranked rushing attack with 136.7 yards per game on the ground. The Badgers are scoring 24.3 points per game, placing them 90th.

On defense, Wisconsin is allowing 16 points per game, placing them 41st best. They are the fourth-best rush defense, allowing 46.3 yards per game. The Badgers are allowing 224.3 passing yards per game. They are the 88th-ranked pass defense.

Wisconsin is 1-2 against the spread this season. They did not cover as 17.5-point underdogs against Alabama last week. The Badgers covered as 28.5-point favorites versus Middle Tennessee after failing to cover against Miami (OH) as 17.5-point favorites. The over is 2-1 this year. The over is 2-0 when the total has been set at 42 points or more.

Maryland vs Wisconsin Picks

Maryland vs Wisconsin Spread Pick

• Maryland +10 (5 units) 

There are some questions for Wisconsin’s quarterback room at the moment. They have been playing Danny O’Neil, who struggled against Alabama last week. The Badgers are looking to possibly bring back starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr, who is a Maryland transfer. The Terrapins will know what to expect out of their former signal caller. Maryland’s defense has been up for the challenge as they do rank inside the top-40 in rush defense.

Maryland’s offense has looked strong, too. Quarterback Malik Washington has been throwing the ball well and has the team ranked 38th in passing yards per game. Wisconsin’s defense is placed 88th in pass defense, which could allow Washington to succeed on the road. Maryland is going to keep this game close and with this large of a margin, the Terrapins should cover.

Take Maryland to cover. 

Maryland vs Wisconsin Over/Under Pick

• Under 44.5 (5 units) 

Maryland and Wisconsin’s defenses have looked really strong through the first few weeks of the season. Wisconsin is allowing 16 points per game while Maryland is allowing just 11 points. The two teams have succeeded at forcing turnovers and limiting big plays. Wisconsin struggled against that versus Alabama, but they found success in limiting big play potential in their first two games. Behind their home fans, this will be an old-fashioned Big Ten game with a low-scoring game. The under is 2-1 during Maryland games this season.

Take the under on Saturday.