Maryland opens as a 2-point favorite in this game.
The Scarlet Knights currently sit at 3-5 (2-2 Big Ten). Their wins have come over Morgan State, Illinois, and Purdue. Losses have come to Washington, Eastern Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Michigan. Their only blowout loss has come to the Buckeyes, with the rest being fairly close games. Their defense has done enough to keep them in most games, but the offense hasn't been able to take advantage in their losses.
Offensively, Rutgers has one of the worst passing offenses in the country (#122), and the worst in the conference. Their rushing offense has been alright (#77 in the country). They've been bad at converting third-downs, but have been alright in the red zone. One thing they've done very well is protect their quarterback, as they've allowed very few sacks on the year. As a whole, they have the 4th-worst offensive unit in the nation, with only UTEP, Kent State, and Wyoming having worse offenses.
Defensively, their pass defense has been alright (#60 in the country), and their run defense has been a little worse (#84 in the country). They have the 6th-worst pass rush in the nation. Their third-down defense has been one of the best in the country, but they've been one of the worst in the red zone. As a whole, they have the #69 ranked defense in the nation, making this a truly average unit.
