Penn State (14-16) vs Maryland (15-15)
Game Info: Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 7:30 pm (Bryce Jordan Center)
Betting Odds: Penn State -2 - Over/Under: 142.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: BTN Stream College Basketball all season on ESPN+. Sign up now!
The Penn State Nittany Lions will host the Maryland Terrapins for a conference matchup this Sunday from the Bryce Jordan Center on the Big Ten Network. PSU comes in as 2-point home favorites, with the total hovering 142.5. Stay tuned for our Maryland vs Penn State Prediction.
Maryland Preview: What Group of Terrapins Will Come to Play?
Maryland dropped to 15-15 after losing to Indiana in College Park by five, 83-78. The Terrapins blew a double digit halftime lead to the Hoosiers in their home finale, and they’ll look to avoid finishing the regular season below .500 here in PA. Maryland is scoring 69.6 points per game, on 41.4% shooting, while allowing 63.6 ppg, and they’re currently 12th in the Big Ten with a 7-12 record in conference play. The Terrapins are 3-7 over their previous ten games, and they’re 4-7 on the road this season.
Maryland Team Profile
- Kevin Willard's team prefers to play at a slower pace, averaging just 69.5 possessions per game (268th), and they’ve shot poorly from deep, connecting on just 28.5% of their treys.
- Veteran guard Jahmir Young has hit the 21-point mark in five of his last seven games, and he’s posting team-leads of 20.9 ppg and 4.2 apg.
- Baltimore native Julian Reese posted a 13-point double-double in the loss to IU, and he leads the Terps in rebounding (9.7), while scoring 13.9 ppg.
- Senior forward Donta Scott knocked down a season-best four treys in the Indiana matchup, and he’s third on the team at 11.4 ppg and 4.8 rpg.
More College Basketball Picks: Sacramento State vs Eastern Washington Prediction!
Penn State Preview: Will the Nittany Lions Show Up For Senior Night?
Penn State fell to 14-16 after losing to Minnesota in Minneapolis by five, 75-70. The Nittany Lions also watched a sizable halftime lead evaporate versus the Gophers, and they’ll try to avenge a December loss to the Terps this Sunday. PSU is scoring 75.6 points per game, on 44.3% shooting, while allowing 74.8 ppg, and they’re currently 11th in the Big Ten with a 8-11 record in conference play. The Nittany Lions are 5-5 over their previous ten games, and they’re 12-4 at home this season.
Penn State Team Profile
- Mike Rhoades’ team has been forced to slow things down here in league action, averaging 73.5 possessions per game (74th), and they’ve shot 33.6% from the outside.
- VCU transfer Ace Baldwin Jr. went for a team-high 23 points in the Indiana victory, and he leads the Nittany Lions in assists (5.9), while scoring 14.2 ppg.
- Former Georgetown big Qudus Wahab led the way with 18 points in the Iowa matchup, and he leads PSU in rebounding (7.5), while scoring 9.5 ppg.
Maryland vs Penn State Trends
- Maryland leads the current series, 17-14, after winning three of the last five meetings.
- MD is 19-11 against the spread, with a 16-14 O/U record
- PSU is 18-12 ATS, with a 14-16 over/under record.
Maryland vs Penn State Prediction
Both of these Big Ten schools endured down season’s in conference play, but this may just be a spot to trust the hosting school on Senior Night. Penn State’s first season under Mike Rhoades has helped build a scrappy identity, similar to the culture he inherited at VCU, and I like leaning on that Sunday night versus an inefficient Maryland team. Neither school is postseason bound, so let’s back a strong effort from Penn State in their home finale.