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Big Ten action heads to Evanston tonight as the Maryland Terrapins (10-15) take on the Northwestern Wildcats (10-16) at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tip-off is set for 8:00 PM ET, with the game airing on Big Ten Network (BTN). Both teams are looking to salvage a difficult February; Maryland has lost seven of its last nine, while Northwestern is currently on a five-game losing streak.
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Maryland vs Northwestern Odds
Northwestern enters as the home favorite, looking to sweep the season series after an overtime thriller back in January. You can follow the latest college basketball odds for this Big Ten matchup to see where the market moves before tip.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Maryland | +303 | +8.5 (-119) | O 144.5 (-110) |
| Northwestern | -416 | -8.5 (-105) | U 144.5 (-110) |
Maryland Betting Form
It has been a rough campaign for Maryland under first-year coach Buzz Williams. The Maryland Terrapins stats and results show a team that has struggled to find consistency since losing leading scorer Pharrel Payne to a long-term injury. However, Solomon Washington has stepped up recently, providing a force on the glass (9.1 RPG) and coming off a 14-rebound double-double against Rutgers.
The Maryland injury report remains the biggest hurdle. Pharrel Payne is OUT (leg), and his absence has severely hindered the Terps’ interior presence. Additionally, Myles Rice and George Turkson are questionable for tonight’s contest. If Rice is unavailable, the scoring burden will shift almost entirely to David Coit (15.2 PPG) and freshman Darius Adams (11.7 PPG).
Northwestern Betting Form
Northwestern’s season has also gone sideways of late, punctuated by a dismal 49-point output against Nebraska. Despite the team’s struggles, the Northwestern schedule and stats feature one of the nation’s premier scorers in Nick Martinelli, who averages 22.1 points and 6.4 rebounds.
The Northwestern injury report is fortunately clear, giving the Wildcats a depth advantage. While they have struggled to cover the spread recently, they remain efficient at taking care of the ball, ranking 3rd nationally in turnovers per game (8.2). At Welsh-Ryan Arena, they’ll look to exploit Maryland’s defense, which currently ranks 293rd in points allowed.
Maryland vs Northwestern Matchup Breakdown
This game will be decided at the free-throw line and by the pace of play. Maryland ranks 107th in free throws made per game (16.3), a metric that helps them stay competitive in games where their field goal percentage (42.1%) falters. Northwestern is equally proficient at the stripe (74.9%) and possesses a far superior assist-to-turnover ratio.
The battle between Solomon Washington and Arrinten Page in the paint will be pivotal. Washington’s rebounding prowess is Maryland’s best chance to limit Northwestern’s second-chance opportunities. However, the Terps have struggled to contain elite individual scorers this season, and Martinelli represents a significant defensive challenge.
Maryland vs Northwestern Predictions and Best Bets
While 8.5 points is a substantial spread for two teams struggling to find wins, Maryland has been a gritty underdog, covering in 6 of their 14 games when getting 8.5 points or more. Northwestern’s recent shooting woes (under 50 points in their last outing) make it difficult to trust them to cover a double-digit margin.
Regarding the total, 144.5 is high for two of the slowest-paced teams in the Big Ten. Both teams average under 67 possessions per game. With Maryland missing its primary interior scorer and Northwestern coming off a cold shooting night, the “Under” is the statistical lean. Our model projects a 73-68 Northwestern victory.
Best Bet: Maryland +8.5 (-119).
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