Washington at Maryland: Terrapins Ready to Prove Themselves Against Road Favorite

Game Details: Washington Huskies at Maryland Terrapins
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Kickoff: 3:30 PM ET
Spread: Washington -6.5
Total: 52.5
Network: Big Ten Network
Our Pick: Maryland +6.5

The Setup

Both teams arrive at SECU Stadium with impressive résumés, but there’s one critical difference: Maryland is 4-0 and undefeated, while Washington sits at 3-1 after dropping a game to Ohio State last weekend. This matchup serves as a perfect litmus test—we’ll discover if either squad is a pretender, or if they’re evenly matched as we suspect.

The Terrapins are riding high off their first-ever road win at Wisconsin, dominating the Badgers 27-10 in their lone test against quality opposition. Washington, meanwhile, struggled in their matchup against top-ranked Ohio State, managing just six points in a 24-6 defeat. While the Buckeyes are clearly a more formidable opponent than Wisconsin, Maryland passed their test and Washington didn’t.

Schedule Context

This marks Washington’s first trip east this season, a cross-country journey that adds another layer of complexity. The Huskies will face an opponent coming off a bye week, well-rested and playing on their home field in front of what should be a raucous Family Weekend crowd.

Statistical Snapshot

Washington holds the advantage in rushing efficiency with a +1.6 yards per rush attempt differential compared to Maryland’s +0.6 mark. Both offenses have solid yards per point numbers, but the defensive disparity tells a more revealing story.

Maryland ranks first nationally in defensive yards per point at 35.4, meaning opponents need more than 35 yards to generate each point against the Terrapins. Washington checks in at 68th with a below-average 13.4 mark. That gap represents a significant concern for the Huskies, whose defense showed vulnerability against Ohio State and could struggle containing Maryland’s balanced attack.

The Terrapins allow just 10.8 points per game, ranking seventh nationally and third in the Big Ten. They’ve surrendered only 43 points through four contests—their lowest total at this stage since 2013. Washington gives up 19.8 points per game, a respectable number but nowhere near Maryland’s elite level.

Maryland’s Defensive Dominance

The numbers paint a picture of a defense that’s more than just opportunistic—it’s suffocating. Maryland leads the nation with four sacks per game, tied with Oklahoma and Tennessee. They’ve recorded eight interceptions, second-most in FBS, and rank second nationally in red zone defense with opponents scoring on just 50 percent of trips inside the 20.

Against Wisconsin, the Terrapins held the Badgers to just three conversions on 17 third-down attempts and limited them to 1.5 yards per rush on 42 carries. They’ve also blocked three kicks this season, second nationally, including both a field goal and a punt in the Wisconsin game—the first time they’ve accomplished that feat in the same contest since at least 2008.

Most impressively, Maryland hasn’t trailed at any point this season. They’re one of just three teams nationally—along with Miami and Texas Tech—that can make that claim. The defense hasn’t allowed a score on an opponent’s first possession all year.

Washington’s Ohio State Struggles

Last week’s performance against the Buckeyes exposed some cracks in Washington’s armor. The Huskies managed just 234 total yards and converted only one of 11 third-down attempts. They averaged two yards per rush and couldn’t sustain drives against Ohio State’s physical defense.

On defense, Washington allowed the Buckeyes to convert six of 10 third downs while giving up 357 total yards. The secondary, which sits outside the top 100 nationally in passing downs efficiency, will now face a Maryland offense that’s averaging 265.8 passing yards per game.

Key Situational Factors

Rest advantage: Maryland comes in off a bye week, giving them extra time to prepare and heal up. Washington plays on a short week after an emotional loss to the nation’s top-ranked team.

Travel: The Huskies face their first cross-country trip of the season, flying from Seattle to the East Coast for a 3:30 PM local kickoff. That’s 12:30 PM on their body clocks—not ideal for peak performance.

Home momentum: The Terrapins host their Big Ten home opener on Family Weekend in front of what should be an energized crowd. Maryland is one of only 20 undefeated teams remaining in FBS and looking to start 5-0 for the 10th time in program history.

Series history: These teams have met just once before—the 1982 Aloha Bowl on Christmas Day in Honolulu, which Washington won 21-20. This marks the Huskies’ first-ever trip to College Park and their first regular-season meeting with Maryland.

The Betting Angle

Washington opened as a 6.5-point favorite despite traveling across the country to face an undefeated conference opponent. The market appears to be giving the Huskies credit for staying competitive against Ohio State for three quarters while questioning Maryland’s strength of schedule.

That logic seems flawed. Maryland has actually beaten a ranked opponent on the road, something Washington couldn’t accomplish at home. The Terrapins’ defensive metrics are elite across the board, while Washington’s defense showed clear vulnerabilities against physical, well-coached opposition.

The spread suggests Washington is significantly better than Maryland, but the evidence points to two teams that are much closer in quality than the market believes. Maryland’s elite defensive efficiency isn’t a mirage—it’s the product of a physical, disciplined unit that ranks in the top five nationally in multiple key categories.

Washington’s offense, which averaged just two yards per carry and converted one third down in 11 tries against Ohio State, now faces arguably an even better defense than the Buckeyes boasted. Maryland’s pass rush should give the Huskies’ offensive line fits, while the secondary—which has picked off eight passes—will challenge Washington’s aerial attack.

The Bottom Line

This game sets up perfectly for Maryland to cover, if not win outright. The Terrapins have the better defense by a significant margin, they’re well-rested coming off a bye, and they’re playing at home with momentum from their Wisconsin upset. Washington is traveling cross-country after an emotional loss, facing a defense that’s allowed just 43 points in four games.

The +6.5 provides excellent value on a team that hasn’t trailed all season and boasts the nation’s best defensive yards per point metric. Even if Washington’s talent eventually shows up, Maryland has the style and personnel to keep this game within a touchdown.

Final Pick: Maryland +6.5

The Terrapins’ defensive dominance and home-field advantage make them the smart play against a Washington squad that struggled against physical opposition last week. Take the points with the home underdog.