Maryland
vs.
Indiana
College Football Pick
10/29/16
By Jason Green
Maryland only needs one more win to be bowl eligible and this Game is a good one to get there. After this Game their next 3 are facing 3 top 10 teams before finishing the season facing Rutgers, who are 0-5 in Conference play. They had lost 2 straight before beating Michigan State 28-17 in their last Game. The Terps don’t have much of a passing attack, but they rank 17th in the nation in rushing yards per Game.
Indiana can get back to .500 with a win in this Big 10 Game, but they have lost 3 in a row. They are the opposite of Maryland, as they have a legit passing offense, but their rushing offense only ranks 102nd in the nation in rushing yards per Game.
Last season at home Maryland lost badly to Indiana 47-28 in the 2nd to last Game of the season.
In their 28-17 win over Michigan State, Maryland was a 3-point home underdog and covered the spread. Indiana was a 3-point road favorite in their last Game against Northwestern, but they lost 24-14 failing to cover.
In their win over Michigan State the Terps only outgained the Spartans by 21 yards, but they forced 2 turnovers and had a balanced offense. QB Perry Hills passed for 200 yards with 2 TD in the Game and the 2 RB’s of Ty Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison each rushed for over 100 yards. The rushing Game is what the Hoosiers have to worry about and they only rank 65th in the nation in run defense. Indiana gave up 123 rushing yards in their loss to Northwestern.
In their loss to Northwestern, Indiana only had 7 fewer total yards, but they committed 2 turnovers and were only 5/19 on 3rd downs.
Indiana QB Richard Lego did pass for 317 yards in the loss to Northwestern, but he did not have a TD and was picked off twice. He did not get much help in the backfield, as the Hoosiers only rushed for 84 yards in the Game. This Game sets up defensively better for Maryland, as they have a solid pass defense, ranking 13th in the nation, but their run D only ranks 86th.
Maryland is 4-14 ATS in their last 18 Games following a ATS win, 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road Games vs. a team with a losing home record, and in their last 7 Games the posted total has gone Under 6 times.
Indiana is 3-7 ATS vs. a team with a winning record, 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home Games, and in their last 4 Games the posted total has gone Under every time.
Bettorsworld Pick – When you look ahead at the Maryland Schedule, you’ll see the next 3 Games after this are against Michigan, Ohio State and Nebraska. That leaves Rutgers as their final opponent. Maryland has 5 wins. One more gets them to a Bowl Game. You think they want to put themselves into a situation where they need to beat Rutgers in the final week to go to a Bowl Game? Nah. Expect Maryland to give Indiana their full attention. Maryland +5