The Penn State Nittany Lions take on the Maryland Terrapins in College Park, MD. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET on BTN.
Maryland is favored by 2.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -142. The total is set at 148.5 points.
Here’s my Penn State vs. Maryland prediction and college basketball picks for January 18, 2026.
Penn State vs Maryland Prediction
My Pick: Penn State +2.5
My Penn State vs Maryland best bet is on the Nittany Lions to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Penn State vs. Maryland Odds
| Penn State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -118 | 148.5 -105 / -115 | +120 |
| Maryland Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -102 | 148.5 -105 / -115 | -142 |
- Penn State vs Maryland spread: Maryland -2.5
- Penn State vs Maryland over/under: 148.5 points
- Penn State vs Maryland moneyline: Penn State +120, Maryland -142
Penn State vs Maryland College Basketball Betting Preview
An absolutely disgusting game tips off at noon Eastern on Sunday. Maryland and Penn State, both 0-6 in the Big Ten, square off to determine once and for all who is the worst team in the conference.
The Nittany Lions have more “momentum” heading into this game, covering three of their last four contests, including games against Michigan and Purdue. Maryland is 1-3 against the spread over its last four games and looks like a corpse on the court.
Penn State has been missing its stud freshman guard Kayden Mingo the past three games, but that hasn’t seemed to matter a ton, as evidenced by the Nittany Lions nearly beating Michigan. (Ewing theory, perhaps?)
Penn State could certainly use his scoring ability, but his potential absence for this game is ultimately inconsequential.
Offensively, Penn State has been poor. The Nittany Lions are the Big Ten’s worst 3-point shooting team in league play (just behind Maryland at 27.8%), and they rely heavily on pick-and-roll action involving guards Freddie Dilione V, Melih Tunca and Mingo (when healthy).
Getting into the teeth of the defense is key to their success, and the Nittany Lions are elite at taking care of the ball, ranking top 15 nationally in turnover rate.
Maryland has struggled guarding ball screens all season, and it hasn't been able to effectively pressure opponents. The Terps have struggled defending the paint and rim as of late, highlighting how devastating the loss of big man Pharrel Payne was.
Penn State should be able to find chances in the paint and at least get shots off against an uninspiring Terps defense.
Maryland has been even worse than Penn State in conference play on the offensive end, ranking last in the league in offensive efficiency. The Terps turn the ball over regularly, they can't shoot from the outside and they cannot finish.
Per CBB analytics, Maryland is 319th nationally in field goal percentage at the rim and 364th in field goal percentage in the paint, so it can't take advantage of the worst 2-point field goal defense in the Big Ten (Penn State is allowing a ridiculous 60.8% from 2).
Like the Nittany Lions, the Terps rely on guard creation off ball screens for offense. David Coit has been their everything this season (concerning for a power conference team), and he leads a team that largely settles for mid-range jumpers.
Coit scored 30 last time out against USC, but he has no help on the offensive end. Playmaking is lacking on the Terps' roster, and Penn State has been excellent defending ball handlers off screens this season, per Synergy.
There’s no juice in the Xfinity Center this season, as Terps fans are rightfully disappointed in their team’s on-court product.
This should allow Penn State to waltz in and compete for its first Big Ten victory. The Nittany Lions get it done on the road.
My Pick: Penn State +2.5
