NCAA Football
2025-11-01 - Indiana Hoosiers at Maryland Terrapins
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : College Football Week 10
Saturday 1st November 2025 - Scheduled 3:30pm
7:30pm (British Time)
Preview
The last fifteen months have seen a stunning turnaround for the Indiana Hoosiers (8-0) and it will take a significant collapse for the team to miss the College Football Playoff. Making it into the Playoff in back to back seasons under Head Coach Curt Cignetti will be a remarkable achievement for a school that had won just nine games between 2021 and 2023 before finishing with an 11-2 record in 2024.
They are set to play in the Big Ten Conference Championship Game, although the Hoosiers have to still win four more regular season games to do that. However, Indiana are going to be a big favourite to win all of those games against Penn State, Wisconsin and Purdue and beginning in College Park this week.
The Maryland Terrapins (4-3) have matched the win total from 2024, but they are 1-3 in the Big Ten and still need two wins to return to Bowl eligibility. They are coming out of a Bye Week and so should be fully prepared for a huge test and Head Coach Mike Locksley will be hoping to improve the 4-8 record against the spread that Maryland have put together when playing with rest.
They have lost three straight games going into that Bye Week and the Terrapins will be well aware that they are facing one of the best teams in College Football and not just in the Big Ten.
Running the ball against the Hoosiers Defensive Line has proven to be extremely difficult and that has set Offensive units behind the chains right from the get-go. Maryland's Offensive Line are not expected to have a lot more joy pounding the rock than previous Indiana opponents, although they can look to exploit Malik Washington's legs from the Quarter Back position to try and keep the Hoosiers guessing.
It is not expected to be a sustainable approach though and instead Washington's arm has to be operating at a high level.
He does have 11 Touchdown passes and 3 Interceptions this season, but Malik Washington is completing less than 60% of his attempts and that becomes all the tougher when set with third and long spots. The Terrapins Offensive Line has offered up solid enough protection, but keeping the Hoosiers pass rush out of the backfield when in obvious spots to throw the ball will be challenging and makes completing passes a hazardous task.
Running the ball is not expected to be so challenging for the Indiana Hoosiers- credit has to be given to Maryland for the overall Defensive Line numbers, but during this three game losing run in the Big Ten, the Terrapins have allowed teams to pick up 5 yards per carry as the competition level has been increased significantly.
The three Conference opponents faced in that time cannot really be compared with the Indiana Hoosiers and the road team are expected to pick up chunks of yards on the ground to make things very comfortable for Quarter Back Fernando Mendoza.
After having a solid season as Quarter Back of the California Golden Bears, Fernando Mendoza would have taken over the role with the Indiana Hoosiers with some big expectations to fulfil. Arguably he has surpassed those already with almost 2000 passing yards and and 24 Touchdown passes to go alongside just 3 Interceptions.
With the Hoosiers Offensive Line expected to push the team into third and manageable spots for much of the day, Mendoza should have ample time to dissect this Maryland Secondary and continue to pile up his passing numbers. The protection being given to the Quarter Back makes life all the more comfortable and Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Offensive unit are unlikely to be slowed in this one.
Weather conditions should be perfect for the Big Ten leaders and Indiana can secure their first victory in this Stadium since 2019.
Covering will be a challenge, especially as Maryland are 4-0 against the spread when set as the underdog in 2025, but it feels like a game in which Indiana are going to be moving the chains with a lot more consistency than the home team. A mistake or two could just allow the Hoosiers to pull away, even if they have Penn State on deck as a potential distraction.
Prediction
Lay the points with the unbeaten road favourite in this Big Ten clash.
The Pick :
Maryland Terrapins 17-41 Indiana Hoosiers
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Indiana Hoosiers - 21 Points at -115 with BetOnline
