The Indiana Hoosiers have emerged as one of the biggest stories in college football, looking the part of legitimate National Title contenders. Head coach Curt Cignetti has been rewarded with a contract extension, and the Hoosiers have climbed to the No. 2 ranked team in the country. They will look to carry this momentum into a Week 10 matchup against the Maryland Terrapins.
These two programs have faced off 13 times in their history. Indiana has come out victorious in eight of these matchups, including last year’s 42-28 win.
Indiana is as a 21-point favorite and holds -1800 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. Maryland is +1000, with the game total set at 50.5
This article provides a preview of both teams and offers a pick for the Week 10 matchup.
Indiana vs. Maryland prediction, preview
Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana is off to a perfect 8-0 start to the season in which it is producing a college football-best 29-point average margin of victory. The Hoosiers have mowed through Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, Indiana State, Illinois, Iowa, Oregon, Michigan State and UCLA already this season. The Hoosiers have scored 56+ points in four games and hold a 5-3 record against the spread.
Fernando Mendoza has played a major role in this team success at the quarterback position. He’s a Heisman favorite at +260 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook at this stage of the season. Mendoza has completed 72.9% of his pass attempts for 1,923 yards, an FBS-best 24 passing touchdowns, and just three interceptions. He also adds 196 rushing yards and three scores on the ground.
Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black lead the rushing attack with 500+ rushing yards each and seven combined touchdowns. Khobie Martin has 288 rushing yards of his own and four scores while Lee Beebe adds 196 rushing yards and a touchdown. Elijah Sarratt leads the team with 609 receiving yards and an FBS-best 10 receiving touchdowns. Omar Cooper Jr. is not far behind with 593 yards through the air and seven scores while E.J. Williams Jr. adds 321 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
Indiana ranks third in the country in scoring at 45.4 points per game and generates 494.5 total yards of offense. It also is holding opponents to the third-fewest points at just 10.9 points per game and 242.8 total yards of offense. It has not allowed an opponent to score more than 20 points in a game and has held opponents to 10 or fewer points in four games. The Hoosiers have forced 13 turnovers and tallied 29 sacks this season.
Maryland Terrapins
Maryland is off to a 4-3 start to the season, but are 1-3 in conference play. It opened the season with four consecutive wins over Florida Atlantic, Northern Illinois, Towson and Wisconsin. Since then the Terrapins have dropped three consecutive games at the hands of Washington, Nebraska and UCLA.
Malik Washington leads the Big Ten with 268 passing attempts, but is completing just 59.7% of these passes for 1,716 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also has added 98 rushing yards and three rushing scores. Shaleak Knotts leads the team in receiving with 421 yards and five touchdowns. Octavian Smith Jr. has 378 receiving yards of his own but had yet to notch a score while Jalil Farooq and Dorian Fleming each have 214+ receiving yards and three combined scores. DeJuan Williams is the team’s leading rusher with 292 yards and two touchdowns while adding 194 yards through the air. Nolan Ray also adds 196 rushing yards and two touchdowns of his own.
The Terrapins are averaging 28.3 points per game, which ranks 74th among FBS teams. They are generating 350 total yards of offense including just 101.3 on the ground. They have had more success defensively, limiting opponents to the 18th-fewest points at 17.3 points per game. Opponents are tallying 351.3 total yards of offense, but just 0.4 rushing scores per game. Maryland has tallied 22 sacks and forced 16 turnovers already this year.
Indiana vs. Maryland pick, best bet
This is shaping up to be the best season in Indiana football history, and the Hoosiers are looking to avoid a let-down spot in this matchup. The 21-point spread is notable, but completely in play for the way the Hoosiers have been playing. Not only is their average margin of victory a college-football best 29 points, but they have won five of their eight games by 21+ points already this year.
Indiana has won each of its last 17 games against non-AP ranked teams and covered the spread in its last four road games against non-AP ranked teams. In contrast, Maryland has lost to 18 of its 19 ranked opponents and is looking to stop a three game losing skid against much inferior talent levels. Even more frustrating, all three of these losses were winnable, but it has fallen short in the fourth quarter and has been outscored 44-7 in this final period across these games.
Indiana looks like a machine right now and the only way this does not turn into a blowout is if some turnover issues pop up or the team lets its foot off the gas. Count on the Hoosiers asserting themselves on both sides of the ball and winning by over 21 points for the sixth time already this season.
