Indiana Looking for First Win as Underdog Getting 7.5 Points at Maryland

• No. 15 Maryland (11-2) is unbeaten in eight home games this year and laying 7.5 points to the visiting Hoosiers
• Unranked Indiana (11-2) has lost its only road game so far this season, and it wasn’t close
• Get the odds, our pick, and all the info you need to bet the game below

NCAA scheduling allows a few early-season conference matchups here and there, allowing teams to garner a taste of what’s to come. But now, there’s nowhere to hide in the Big Ten, which begins conference play in earnest this weekend.

For No. 15 Maryland (11-2, 8-0 home) and unranked Indiana (11-2, 0-1 road), that means a date with one another on Saturday at the Xfinity Center (12pm ET, Jan. 4) on Maryland’s campus in College Park.

The Terrapins haven’t lost at home yet this season, helping them place among the top 10 in the 2020 NCAA Tournament title odds at the moment. They opened as 7.5-point favorites for Saturday’s contest.

Odds taken Jan. 3. See the top Maryland sports betting apps.

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Home Cooking

Maryland has rattled off eight-straight home wins to start the year, seven of which came by 14 or more points. Their one close call, a 59-58 win early last month, was against a respectable Illinois team.

No quit in us 😤

🔟-0️⃣#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/5MIrtYZGAI

— Maryland Men’s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) December 8, 2019

Indiana has found comfort in the friendly confines of Bloomington’s Assembly Hall, where the Hoosiers are 9-1 (losing to a streaking Arkansas team).

Unfortunately for Indiana, though, they’ll be on the road for this one. The Hoosiers lost their only “true” road game (they’ve won a pair of neutral site games) in blowout fashion against Wisconsin.

Back on track in a B1G way 💯

1-0 in Big Ten play

Top Plays from today's 84-64 conference-opening win over Indiana#OnWisconsin » #Badgers pic.twitter.com/d0YyBw4yK1

— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) December 8, 2019

Quality Losses

Both of Indiana’s losses have already been mentioned above, but just to quickly reiterate: Wisconsin (8-5) got off to a slow start but is a storied program that is still likely to have a strong season. All five of the Badgers’ losses have come against teams ranked in KenPom.com’s top 100, including three in the top 50.

The Hoosiers’ other loss, by seven points to Arkansas, came against a Razorbacks team that is 11-1 this year.

Deck the Hall pic.twitter.com/yUHBeXzH3e

— Arkansas Razorbacks Men’s Basketball 🐗 (@RazorbackMBB) December 30, 2019

As for Maryland, it dropped a pair of road games against No. 21 Penn State (11-2) and Seton Hall (9-4). Those losses came by a combined 11 points.

This was fun🦁

Thanks Gang👍🏽#ClimbWithUs | CLIMB ON pic.twitter.com/xL7VdIq5BA

— Penn State Men’s Basketball (@PennStateMBB) December 11, 2019

ATS Analysis

With such a talented team, Maryland has been a victim of bloated point spreads a few times and is only 5-8 against the spread this season. Right now, the Terrapins are on a four-game ATS losing streak and are 2-4 as single-digit favorites.

Indiana is 7-6 ATS, which doesn’t bring much confidence with it, either. They’ve lost four of their past five ATS, but it’s important to note that they have not yet been an underdog this season.

Another classic pic.twitter.com/eQ9pY1Z8sa

— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) December 22, 2019

For what it’s worth, Indiana won its final five games ATS as an underdog last season.

Decision Time

Maryland’s body of work so far is very strong, especially at home. But recent results (a one-point win, consecutive losses and a blowout over a weak opponent) have been less impressive.

The Terrapins might be the better team, but Indiana should enjoy the cushion of receiving points for the first time this year and use that to at least keep this one close — if not come through with the win.

Pick: Indiana +7.5 (-110)