Maryland at Northwestern

The Big Ten Conference has many strong teams. Maryland and Northwestern are not among them. Maryland is 10-15 overall and 3-11 in the conference. Northwestern has an even worse record at 10-16 overall and 2-13 in the league. Yet the Wildcats are big favorites. It is not justified. Northwestern is having a second straight down season, while the Terrapins have shown some life lately, winning two of their last three games, both as underdogs. Maryland beat Iowa, 77-70, as a 10.5-point home underdog, and defeated Minnesota, 67-62, as a 9.5-point road underdog during this span. Northwestern averages 2.5 more points per game than Maryland and gives up five fewer points per game than the Terrapins. The Wildcats are a half-court team. They do not play fast, so points and possessions will matter here. Maryland rolled past Northwestern, 74-61, at home and lost, 76-74, in overtime at Northwestern in last season's games. Take Maryland.