The Maryland Terrapins and Michigan State Spartans are coming off wins in Week 1, but one was far more impressive.
The Spartans looked sluggish out of the gate, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Meanwhile, the Terps destroyed UConn, and their defense shined from the opening kick.
The Terps are 9.5-point favorites at College Park for Saturday's clash. Oddsmakers set the total at 44.5, which appears to be spot on given how awful the Spartans were offensively.
Here's my Michigan State vs. Maryland prediction and pick.
Michigan State vs. Maryland Prediction
- Pick: Under 44.5
My Michigan State vs. Maryland best bet is on the under, with the best line currently available at bet365, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Michigan State vs. Maryland Odds
| Michigan State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8 -110 | 44.5 -115o / -105u | +280 |
| Maryland Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8 -110 | 44.5 -115o / -105u | -350 |
- Spread: Michigan State +8 (-110) · Maryland -8 (-110)
- Total: Over/Under 44.5
- Moneyline: Michigan State +280 · Maryland -350
Michigan State vs. Maryland Preview
Michigan State Spartans Preview
It's exciting times for the Spartans as Jonathan Smith is the new head coach. Smith was terrific at Oregon State, and he's now tasked with completely turning around the once-proud Sparty football program.
Sparty's offense looked scary in the second half last week, and not in a good way. They struggled mightily against FAU's defense and are now facing an underrated Terps defense.
There's no doubt that the program is on the rise, but getting shut out in the second half last week certainly isn't a positive. Quarterback Aidan Chilles was 10-for-24 with 116 passing yards and two picks.
The Spartans did have 179 rushing yards, but the Huskies struggled to run against Maryland's defensive front last week.
The good news is that the Spartans' defense played well last week. However, they now face a much more formidable opponent.
Sparty held FAU to 3.4 yards per play last week, so all signs point to an improved defense from a year ago.
In 2023, they were 23rd in the nation in defensive rush play explosiveness, so there's a good chance the Terps are limited on offense in that department.
I can't back the Spartans here — even if the defense is improved — because of the question marks at QB and in the run game. The offense needs to show a lot more life for me to feel safe backing them in the future.
Maryland Terrapins Preview
The Terps steamrolled the Huskies on Saturday, led by a tremendous defensive effort and a strong ground game. QB Billy Edwards Jr. led the Terps, who racked up 629 yards of total offense.
Edwards passed for 329 yards and completed 20-of-27 passes. He was highly efficient through the air, but taking that stat line with a grain of salt is essential.
The Terps had a major question mark at the QB position after Taulia Tagovailoa departed for the NFL in the offseason, so a lot of pressure was added to Edwards.
Edwards is not known for his arm, as he utilizes his legs as much as possible. He's shown flashes of being a solid passer, but he may have a tough time against a Sparty defense that was top-20 in defensive explosives.
I don't expect many big plays from either offense, and the game should move slowly.
Michigan State vs. Maryland Prediction, Pick
I was wrong to target the under last week, as I didn't expect the Terps' offense to have that level of explosiveness. But I'm happy to go back to the well this week and take the under.
I don't expect the same production level from the Terps' offense, and I expect Sparty to repeat last week's offensive output against a more robust defensive unit.
From what I saw from Sparty last week, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't score a touchdown in this game. Maryland should roll, but I'm hesitant to lay a large number against it, even if I believe Sparty could be better offensively.
Pick: Under 44.5 (Play to 42.5)
How to Watch Michigan State vs. Maryland
| Location: | College Park, Maryland |
| Date: | Saturday, Sept. 7 |
| Kickoff Time: | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | Big Ten Network |
MSU-Maryland Betting Trends
- 60% of the bets are on Michigan State ATS, while 37% of the money is on the same bet against Maryland.
Michigan State vs. Maryland Weather
