Maryland vs UConn Picks and Prediction for Saturday September 12 2026

The Maryland Terrapins travel to Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut, to face the UConn Huskies on Saturday, September 12. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 PM ET on CBS Sports Network. Both teams are 1-0 after enormous opening victories, with Maryland shutting out Hampton 62-0 and UConn crushing Lafayette 56-7. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Before placing your wagers, check out our free college football picks for more predictions throughout the season.

Maryland Dominates on Both Sides of the Football

Maryland produced one of the most complete performances of Week 1, outgaining Hampton 646-85 while recording its first shutout since 2022. The Terrapins rushed for 365 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 9.1 yards per carry.

Malik Washington completed 19 of 31 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, while DeJuan Williams needed only a handful of carries to rush for 116 yards and two touchdowns, including a 94-yard score. Maryland finished with 31 first downs and scored on nine of 10 red-zone opportunities.

The defense was equally dominant. Maryland held Hampton to 10 rushing yards, recorded five sacks and intercepted three passes. UConn represents a substantial increase in competition, but the Terrapins couldn't have produced a much stronger opening statement.

UConn Impresses in Jason Candle's Debut

UConn also dominated its opener, beating Lafayette 56-7 in Jason Candle's first game as head coach. The Huskies took immediate control and demonstrated that their extensive offseason roster changes haven't prevented them from producing quickly.

The level of competition needs to be considered for both teams. Lafayette is an FCS opponent, just as Hampton was for Maryland, so this matchup will tell us considerably more about each program than its opener.

UConn gets the benefit of playing at home and enters with confidence after scoring 56 points. The Huskies will need considerably more offensive balance against a Maryland defense that completely eliminated Hampton's rushing attack.

Maryland vs UConn Picks and Prediction

Pick: Maryland -7.5 or Better

With a dependable conventional line not yet available, Maryland -7.5 or better is my target. Both teams dominated FCS opponents, but Maryland's performance was particularly impressive because the Terrapins produced 646 yards while allowing only 85. The rushing attack gives Maryland a way to control the game, while the defense showed the ability to create pressure and turnovers. If the spread remains around a touchdown, take Maryland -7.5 or better.

Pick: Over 52.5

For the total, Over 52.5 is my target. Maryland scored 62 and UConn scored 56 in their respective openers, and both teams showed enough offensive capability to contribute here. Neither offense will find things nearly as easy as it did against FCS competition, but something around 31-24 or 34-21 gets this into the mid-50s. Take Over 52.5 if available.

Final Picks: Maryland -7.5 or better and Over 52.5