In a 12:30 p.m. ET kickoff, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will face off with the Maryland Terrapins as part of the Saturday college football slate.
Neither Big Ten opponent has gotten off to its desired start to the season. Rutgers and Maryland have a combined 3-9 record, and both teams are still searching for their first conference win. Maryland will have the benefit of home-field advantage and will look to capitalize on the homecoming atmosphere.
Looking at the odds, Maryland enters as a 4.5-point favorite with -198 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. Rutgers is +164 to pull off the upset, with the game total set at 57.5 points.
This article previews both teams and offers a pick for the Week 7 CFB matchup.
Rutgers at Maryland Preview
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have slipped to 1-4 to start the season and have dropped both of their Big Ten matchups. Their lone victory was a 58-7 rout of Howard University, while the Scarlet Knights most recently fell 47-15 to Indiana. They will have some additional rest coming into this matchup after their bye week. On the season, Rutgers has gone 2-3 against the spread, and the game total has gone over in four of its five games played.
Greg Schiano’s squad is averaging 30.0 points per game, which ranks 66th among 138 qualifying Division I teams. The bigger concerns have come defensively, as Rutgers is giving up 32.2 points per game, ranking 121st nationally. The Scarlet Knights are conceding 407.4 total yards per game, and Howard is the only opponent they have held below 28 points.
There has not been much stability at the quarterback position, with Dylan Lonergan and AJ Surace each taking notable snaps. Lonergan entered the season as the starting quarterback, but he suffered an injury during the season opener against UMass, which held him out of the following week. He also left the previous matchup against Indiana due to injury, but the expectation is for him to be available with no restrictions in this game. When he has been on the field, the Boston College transfer has completed 55.4% of his pass attempts for 775 passing yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions.
If Rutgers can get consistent quarterback play, there are playmakers on the roster who can help the offense find its rhythm. KJ Duff leads the team with 33 receptions for 628 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, while Ben Black and Jourdin Houston have also played important roles. Running back Antwan Raymond has contributed 469 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while Clay Thevenin has added 180 rushing yards and three scores.
Maryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins enter with a 2-4 record on the season and are 0-3 in Big Ten Conference play. They opened the season with back-to-back wins over Hampton and Connecticut but have since lost four straight games. Maryland most recently fell 45-16 to Ohio State. The Terrapins have gone 3-3 against the spread through their first six games, and the game total has gone over in five of those matchups.
Mike Locksley’s group has shown some encouraging offensive flashes but has struggled defensively. Maryland is averaging 28.0 points per game, ranking 76th nationally, and it has scored at least 23 points in four of its six games. Defensively, opponents are scoring 32.7 points per game against the Terrapins, ranking 124th among 138 teams. While Maryland has faced some stiff competition, it has allowed at least 45 points in each of its last three games.
Malik Washington is a talented quarterback who has shown plenty of potential, although his decision-making has been inconsistent. The second-year starter has completed 61.0% of his passes for 1,352 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. Washington has also added 56 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Injuries have contributed to a shared workload in the backfield, but several players have helped Maryland’s rushing attack. DeJuan Williams leads the team with 242 rushing yards, while Iverson Howard has added 217 and Harry Dalton has also surpassed 100 yards. The trio has combined for 10 rushing touchdowns this season.
Wide receiver Chris Durr Jr. leads Maryland’s passing attack with 476 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Kaleb Webb and Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding have also surpassed 200 receiving yards, giving Washington multiple options in the passing game.
Rutgers at Maryland Pick, Best Bet
Both teams have shown flashes of offensive potential while enduring stretches of concerning football. The biggest issues have come on the defensive side of the ball, and I am backing the game total to go over 57.5 points.
Rutgers is coming off allowing 47 points to Indiana in its most recent matchup, and it was gashed for 42 points by USC in its previous loss. While this Maryland offense is not to the standard of this pair of ranked teams, Malik Washington is better than he has played for the bulk of the year and the Terrapins will be capable of putting up offense at a high rate. Washington caused some major problems with his legs last year against Rutgers, rushing for a career-best 164 yards and a touchdown. Expect him to move around the pocket at a frequent rate and keep plays alive. Rutgers has been prone to allowing some big plays, and expect this to be a factor in this matchup.
But the concerns with Maryland’s defensive output are even more pronounced. Over the last three weeks, it has allowed 54 points to UCLA, 48 to Nebraska, and 45 to Ohio State. Rutgers has playmakers that are capable of exploiting those problems, and expect running back Antwan Raymond to make a major impact in this game. Injuries to Lonergan have prevented the Rutgers’ offensive unit from fully hitting its stride, but he is back healthy, and coming off the bye week is a major advantage.
The game total has gone over in four of the five Rutgers games and five of the six Maryland games so far this season. Expect both sides to be prepared to pack an offensive punch and for this to be a completely manageable line based on the context of these defenses. Don’t expect either side to let their foot off the gas and for there to be a clear path to each team scoring 30+ points in this Big Ten matchup.
