Don’t call it a trap game. The Michigan football team heads to Maryland this Saturday, with some school named Ohio State looming to end the regular season on Nov. 27.
But the Wolverines have preached a game-by-game mentality all season, and it won’t change this week. Michigan needs to win out to stay in the chase for the Big Ten East title and a potential College Football Playoff berth.
Will Michigan stay focused for an essential win, or will a struggling Maryland team fighting for a bowl berth pull off the upset at home?
Michigan Wolverines at Maryland Terrapins: Big Ten Football Spread
Michigan holding as two-touchdown favorite over Maryland
It’s no surprise that the Wolverines opened as a favorite over the Terrapins. As of Tuesday afternoon, most legal Michigan sportsbooks gave 14.5 or 15 points to the home-team underdogs.
PointsBet Sportsbook and BetMGM Sportsbook had the spread set at 14.5, with similar moneyline offerings. Michigan’s moneyline was -625 at BetMGM and Maryland’s was +460. PointsBet offered -640 to +460.
PointsBet and Caesars Sportsbook each set the over/under total at 55.5 points, while BetMGM had it at 56.5 points.
The over has hit four times in Michigan games this year and five times in Maryland games. The Wolverines enter the contest 8-2-0 against the spread and the Terrapins are 3-7-0 ATS.
With Michigan escaping Beaver Stadium with a victory last Saturday over Penn State, hopes for a possible shot at the Big Ten East and College Football Playoff remain alive.
At last check, PointsBet gave Michigan +5000 odds win the national championship, and BetMGM offered +3000 odds. DraftKings gave the Wolverines +800 odds to win the Big Ten East and +1800 to win the conference.
How to watch: No. 8 Michigan Wolverines at Maryland Terrapins
- What: No. 8 Michigan (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) at Maryland (5-5, 2-5)
- When: 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday
- Where: Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium, College Park, Maryland
- TV: Big Ten Network (Announcers: Brandon Gaudin, James Laurinaitis, Rick Pizzo)
- Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1 FM)
- Satellite radio: Sirius XM, Channels 195 (U of M) and 201 (Maryland)
Michigan gives all, survives 21-17 in Happy Valley
Penn State scored a field goal to go up 17-14 on Michigan with 5:55 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Hassan Haskins then ran the ball 28 yards in five plays to move Michigan down the field, setting up a Cade McNamara 47-yard touchdown pass to Erick All with 3:29 to play.
The Nittany Lions turned it over on downs in the next drive, and the Wolverines ran out the clock and advanced to 9-1.
Aidan Hutchinson’s career-high three sacks and forced fumble earned him Big Ten defensive player of the week honors.
McNamara finished 19-of-29 for 217 yards and three touchdowns.
Haskins had a season-high 31 carries for 156 yards, along with five receptions for 45 yards. It was Haskins’ fifth game with 100-plus yards and third with more than 155. He now has 985 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.
Roman Wilson scored twice and had three catches for 31 yards.
All, who played on a sore ankle, had four catches for 64 yards and the score.
Maryland’s free fall continues
Maryland has lost five of its past six games, including two consecutive against Penn State and then to Michigan State last week. The Terrapins’ last win was Oct. 30 against 2-8 Indiana (0-7 Big Ten).
In Maryland’s 40-21 loss to Michigan State, nine Terrapin drives ended scoreless, including one with a missed field goal and another an interception near the MSU 1-yard line, deleting an otherwise impressive offensive outing.
Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa finished 29-for-48 for 350 yards and two touchdowns against the one interception. It was his sixth game throwing for 300 yards or more.
Peny Boone had five carries for 42 yards and a touchdown.
Chigoziem Oknokwo caught two total touchdowns in the second and third quarters. He finished with eight catches for 112 yards.
Rakim Jarrett had 10 catches for 105 yards.
The Terrapins will need to either upset Michigan or beat Rutgers to become bowl-eligible.
Michigan, Maryland meeting for just 10th time
Michigan and Maryland have met nine times between 1985 and 2019. The Wolverines have won eight of those games and head into the 10th meeting on a five-game win streak against the Terrapins.
The Maryland-Michigan game occurred the week before the Ohio State game just one other time: on Nov. 22, 2014 during former head coach Brady Hoke’s final season with the Wolverines.
Maryland won that day, 23-16 in Ann Arbor. Michigan then traveled to Columbus, losing 42-28 against the Buckeyes.
