The college basketball season continues Monday night with just one top-25 team in the action, but thereโs a marquee matchup in the Big Ten Conference, so I bring you the best betting pick and odds for the Maryland vs. Indiana showdown at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana.
The Hoosiers opened as 4.5-point favorites on Sugarhouse Sportsbook, but they are winless in three straight encounters with the Terrapins. Maryland beat Indiana twice in 2020 and eight times in their last 12 meetings.
The Terrapinsโ tough schedule continues
The Maryland Terrapins (6-4; 1-3 Conf.) have been pretty much hit-or-miss this season, going 5-5 against the spread. Theyโve dropped two of their last six games overall including a 74-60 loss to No. 19 Rutgers and an 84-73 home defeat last time out against No. 16 Michigan.
Meanwhile, the Terrapins beat La Salle 84-71 at home and upset No. 6 Wisconsin 70-64 as 9.5-point road underdogs. They rank 45th in the KenPom standings thanks to the 11th-best offensive rating in the country (113.4), but the Terrapins allow 96.7 points in a return (90th in the country) on 43.5% shooting (210th).
Maryland uses eight players in its rotation, and senior guard Darryl Morsell (7.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG) will miss Mondayโs game. The Terrapins will continue to lean heavily on a couple of guards, as junior Eric Ayala tallies 14.8 points per game, while Donta Scott adds 13.5 points and 6.8 rebounds a night.
The Hoosiers beat Penn State for their first Big Ten victory
The Indiana Hoosiers (6-4, 1-2 Conf.) snapped a two-game skid last Wednesday, outlasting the Penn State Nittany Lions 87-85 in overtime. They failed to cover a 6.5-point spread and dropped to 6-4 ATS on the season, but the Hoosiers bounced back from a couple of tough losses to No. 18 Illinois 69-60 and Northwestern 74-67.
Indiana is No. 23 in the latest KenPom rankings, tallying the 16th-best defensive rating (90.2) and the 49th-best offensive rating (109.3). The Hoosiers are posting 5.2 blocks per game which are the 20th-most in the country.
Sophomore forward Trayce Jackson-Davis is the Hoosiersโ best player this season, no doubt. He spends 32.8 minutes on the floor per game, averaging 20.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks. Sophomore guard Armaan Franklin scores 13.8 points per game, while senior PG Aljami Durham tallies 9.8 points and 3.2 assists per contest.
[metabet_core_odds_compare query=”ncaab/maryland” size=”300×250″ site_id=”atsio” css=”float:right; margin-left:10px”]Trends:
Maryland:
- 5-0 ATS in the last five games played in January
Indiana:
- 1-4 ATS in the last five games against the Big Ten
The Winner Prediction
While the Hoosiers lean on their stout defense, the Terrapins mostly rely on their offense. Both teams play at a slow pace, averaging below 68 possessions per 40 minutes, so I expect to see a tight clash and would be surprised if someone wins it by seven or more points.
Therefore, buying a few points on Maryland should be the best move. As Iโve said, the Terrapins have been pretty unpredictable thus far, but they should know how to deal with the Hoosiersโ defense after winning their last three encounters.
Four of the last five meetings between Maryland and Indiana were decided by three or fewer points.
Pick: Take Maryland +6.5 at -160
The Total:
The under is 4-2 in the last six matchups between these two schools, but five of those six games produced more than 138 points in total. Anyway, Iโm sticking with the under, as we should see some low-tempo basketball.
The Terrapins have the 11th-best offensive rating, but theyโve surpassed a 70-point mark just once in their last six outings. On the other side, the Hoosiers exploded against Penn State after scoring fewer than 70 points in three straight showings.
Pick: Go under 137.5 points at -110