Maryland is hosting Washington for a Week 6 matchup on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland.
The Terrapins are listed as 5.5-point home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 53.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction, and best bet for this Big Ten matchup between Maryland and Washington.
Washington at Maryland prediction, preview
Washington Preview
This game serves as a major test for the Washington Huskies. They appeared to be one of the most impressive teams in the country through the first few weeks of the season. However, those wins came against inferior opponents. They were firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball, but had yet to face a truly formidable challenge.
But last week, they faced the ultimate test, taking on the defending national champion Ohio State. Despite injuries in the secondary, Washington’s defense rose to the task for most of the game, allowing just 14 points through three quarters. However, the offense was never able to get anything going against the elite Ohio State defense.
Losing to the No. 1 team in the nation is nothing to be ashamed of, but Washington needs a bounce-back victory. They could still compete for a College Football Playoff if they beat up on the lesser Big Ten teams moving forward. They lost a heartbreaker against Rutgers when flying across the country last season — and they can’t let that happen again in this spot.
Maryland Preview
Maryland is 4-0 heading into this highly anticipated matchup against Washington. The Terrapins were expected to be towards the bottom of the Big Ten this season, but picked up a massive road win over Wisconsin to open conference play. They went undefeated in non-conference play and are eager to prove that their win over Wisconsin wasn’t a fluke.
The Terrapins might have found something special in freshman quarterback Malik Washington. He has been efficient so far, avoiding typical first-year mistakes. He has ten total touchdowns and just one interception through the first four games of the season. This will be their toughest game of the season yet, but the home crowd at SECU Stadium should provide a significant boost.
Washington at Maryland pick, best bet
My favorite play in this game is the over of 53.5 points. Washington’s offense couldn’t get anything going against Ohio State’s high-level defense — but should have much better luck in this game. Washington ranks second in the nation in offensive EPA/rush, 14th in offensive success rate, and second in offensive EPA/drive.
Maryland has not faced an offense like that this season. Their only Power Four opponent so far was Wisconsin, which has been terrible offensively this season and lost its starting quarterback in the first quarter of the game.
Washington should move the ball with relative ease and put points on the board in a hurry. The Huskies are still dealing with injuries in their secondary, so Malik Washington should also be able to find success in the air, as well. These teams should trade scores and eclipse the 53.5-point total.
