Michigan Maintains Case as NCAA Title Favorite; Maryland Next Up
Maryland vs Michigan Preview: Wolverines Favored by 19.5 on Road
Following its statement victory over Penn State, No. 2 Michigan now turns its attention to Maryland. The Wolverines and Terrapins square off Saturday (noon ET) at SECU Stadium.
While the spread has shrunk from 21.5, the unbeaten Wolverines are still healthy 19.5-point favorites (-110) and -1300 on the moneyline. Meanwhile, the Terrapins are +19.5 (-110) on the spread and +800 to win outright. The projected total is 49.5 (-110 Over, -110 Under).
Can the Wolverines, third in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, maintain their pursuit of a national championship? Read on as we break down both teams and assess the odds in our Maryland vs Michigan preview.
Michigan Wolverines vs Maryland Terrapins 
Day/Time: Location: SECU Stadium; College Park, Md.
Streaming: Fox
Maryland vs Michigan Betting Trends
The Michigan Wolverines are 5-4-1 against the spread, including 4-0 away from home. They’ve covered in six of their last seven games against Maryland. The total has also gone Over in five of Michigan’s last six games. The Terrapins, meanwhile, are 1-4 ATS in their last five games and 4-6 overall. The total has gone Over in four of the Terrapins’ last five home games. That’s important to remember when assessing the odds in our Maryland vs Michigan preview.
No Harbaugh, No Problem for Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines added a marquee win to their slate, defeating then-No. 10 Penn State 24-15 on Saturday. The Wolverines, ranked No. 2 in the AP poll, moved to 7-0 in Big Ten Conference play and 10-0 overall. In the process, the Wolverines maintained their place as the national championship favorite at +220 per NCAAF odds.
The Wolverines played without head coach Jim Harbaugh, who was suspended by the Big Ten for the team’s final three regular-season games due to his role in an alleged sign-stealing scandal.
Utilizing a run-heavy approach, the Wolverines jumped to a 14-9 halftime lead and finished with 227 rushing yards. Blake Corum paced the Wolverines with 145 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. A 4.5-point favorite, Michigan covered the spread for the fifth time in six games and moved to 5-4-1 overall.
Michigan now needs to win just one of its final two regular season games to surpass its projected total of 10.5. But it obviously has bigger goals to accomplish, starting with a Big Ten championship. The Wolverines remain the conference favorite at -200. However, No. 3 Ohio State awaits in Week 13. That game will likely decide the Big Ten East college football standings.
There’s obviously a lot to like about Michigan, especially on defense. The Wolverines have allowed the fewest yards (232.1 per game) and points (7.5) in the country. They’ve yet to give up more than 15 points. Keep that in mind when analyzing our Maryland vs Michigan preview.
Terps Back on Track
The Maryland Terrapins ended their four-game slide last week, edging Nebraska 13-10. Jack Howes hit a 24-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Terrapins to 6-4 (3-4 Big Ten). In doing so, the Terrapins, 2-point favorites, also covered the spread for the first time since Sept. 30.
Projected for 7.0 wins, the Terrapins still haven’t quite met expectations. Regardless, they’re bowl-eligible for the third straight season.
Taulia Tagovailoa — the younger brother of NFL quarterback Tua Tagovailoa — completed 27 of 40 passes for 283 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Tagovailoa has now thrown for at least 250 yards in four straight games. His 22 touchdown passes are tied for 15th in FBS.
Despite his consistent play, the Terrapins have struggled to string together wins on the Big Ten football schedule. They averaged 20.7 points during their four-game losing streak (Ohio State, Illinois, Northwestern, Penn State), well below their season average of 28.9.
Handicapping the Game
Undeterred by surrounding controversy, the Wolverines delivered a throwback performance against Penn State. The Wolverines outlasted the Nittany Lions, their toughest opponent to date, with 32 straight runs to close the game. J.J. McCarthy wound up attempting only eight passes.
The Wolverines will likely air it out a bit more against Maryland. Then again, will they need to? Prior to their victory over Nebraska, the Terrapins had struggled defensively. They were gouged for 51 points by Penn State. Simply put, that doesn’t bode well.
Some bettors might worry about Michigan looking ahead to Ohio State. But they shouldn’t. Amidst allegations of sign stealing, Harbaugh’s team seems laser focused. Knowing that, expect them to take care of business and beat Maryland handedly on the road.
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