Maryland vs Ohio State Picks and Prediction for Saturday, October 10, 2026

The Maryland Terrapins visit the 5th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, with the opening kickoff at 4:15 PM ET and televised on BTN. Maryland is 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten, tied near the bottom of the conference standings after losing 48-23 to Nebraska. The Terrapins have dropped three straight games. Ohio State is 4-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play, tied atop the Big Ten standings. The Buckeyes defeated Iowa 31-14 last Saturday for their third consecutive victory. Let’s break down the matchup with our free NCAAF picks.

Maryland Terrapins Trying to End a Three-Game Losing Streak

Maryland has lost three straight against Virginia Tech, UCLA, and Nebraska, allowing 137 points while scoring 52. Quarterback Malik Washington has thrown for 1,288 yards with seven touchdowns, six interceptions and a 62.6% completion rate. Chris Durr Jr. leads the receivers with 42 catches for 461 yards and four touchdowns. Iverson Howard has rushed for 211 yards and four touchdowns, while DeJuan Williams has gained 194 yards on 13 attempts, including a 94-yard run.

The Terrapins have gained 1,386 passing yards and 734 rushing yards, with 19 combined offensive touchdowns. Maryland has scored 152 points while allowing 151, although the defense has struggled considerably during the current losing streak. The Terrapins have recorded 14 sacks, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries. Carlton Smith leads the defense with 35 tackles, while Derrick LeBlanc and DD Holmes have 2.5 sacks apiece. Maryland's defense faces another difficult assignment against Ohio State's passing attack.

Injuries: Preston Howard (questionable), Lavon Johnson (out), Zahir Mathis (out).

Ohio State Buckeyes Riding a Three-Game Winning Streak

Ohio State has won three consecutive games, defeating Kent State 59-3, Illinois 42-19 and Iowa 31-14. Quarterback Julian Sayin has thrown for 1,530 yards with 13 touchdowns, one interception and a 72.5% completion rate. Jeremiah Smith leads the receiving corps with 44 catches for 823 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 18.7 yards per reception. Bo Jackson has rushed for 353 yards and two scores, while Ja'Kobi Jackson has added 278 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

The Buckeyes have produced 1,785 passing yards and 787 rushing yards, with 27 combined offensive touchdowns. Ohio State has scored 211 points while allowing 63, an average of 12.6 points conceded per game. The defense has recorded nine sacks, four interceptions and five fumble recoveries. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. leads the team with three sacks, while Jaylen McClain has two interceptions. Ohio State has allowed 36 points across its last three victories and has scored at least 31 in each contest.

Injuries: Legend Bey (questionable), Anthony Valerio-Hudson (questionable), Bennett Christian (questionable), Kyle Parker (questionable), T. Rogers (out).

Key to the Game

Maryland's secondary faces the biggest challenge against Sayin and Smith. Sayin averages 10.8 yards per passing attempt, while Smith has 823 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Maryland has allowed 48, 54 and 35 points in its last three games. The Terrapins need Washington to protect the football after throwing six interceptions, particularly against an Ohio State defense with four interceptions and five fumble recoveries. Sustained drives from Maryland would also limit the number of possessions available to the Buckeyes.

Maryland vs Ohio State Game Pick

• Ohio State Buckeyes -32.5 (-110)

Ohio State is the pick against the 32.5-point spread after winning its last three games by 56, 23 and 17 points. Maryland has lost three straight by 9, 51 and 25 points, with defensive problems becoming more severe against UCLA and Nebraska. Sayin has 13 touchdown passes against one interception, while Smith has nine receiving touchdowns. Ohio State also has a 211-63 scoring advantage this season. The Buckeyes have enough passing production and defensive consistency to cover against a Maryland team allowing frequent scoring drives.

Maryland vs Ohio State Over/Under Pick

• over 56.5 (-110)

The play is over 56.5 with Ohio State averaging 42.2 points per game and Maryland allowing 45.7 across its last three contests. The Buckeyes have scored 59, 42 and 31 in their recent victories, while Maryland has allowed at least 35 in each of its three defeats. Washington has thrown for 1,288 yards, and Maryland scored 23 against Nebraska despite the loss. Ohio State's passing attack can generate substantial scoring, while the Terrapins have enough offensive production to contribute to the total on Saturday afternoon.