Maryland Terrapins vs Northwestern Wildcats Prediction: Preview February 28th. Game Info, Odds, Trends, Stats

We turn our attention to a battle from the Big Ten Conference on Wednesday night, as Ej expects a tight game to ensue when the Northwestern Wildcats visit the Maryland Terrapins. The Northwestern Wildcats can still clinch the 2-seed for the Big Ten Conference Tournament, while the Terps are muddled back in the 10th spot of the conference table entering tonight’s game.

Should the home team be favoured in this game, or does Ej believe we have a potential upset brewing in College Park tonight?

-5.5 Points is the handicap on Maryland at home, and Bet365 is showing a 128.5 on the Match Total.

For more free basketball tips, visit the bettingexpert community, and for more expert tips, visit our Expert Insights section.

In this Article:

• Maryland Terrapins vs Northwestern Wildcats Pick and Prediction
• Game Info
• Odds
• Maryland Terrapins vs Northwestern Wildcats Trends
• Maryland Terrapins Schedule and Form
• Northwestern Wildcats Schedule and Form
• Safer Gambling

MARYLAND TERRAPINS VS NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS PREDICTION

The Terrapins were -4.5 point favourites when the line opened against Northwestern, and a point has already been given back to the underdog Wildcats on the road. I don’t think Northwestern is going to lose this game, but you know when the line setters give me a handful of points to pocket, I usually do so.

I am doing it again because this could be another close game between these two programs. Let’s reflect on the first meeting on Northwestern’s home court, as the Wildcats escaped with a 72 – 69 win on January 17.

If you recall, at the 3:16 mark left to play, it was a 4-point game from then on out, and I watched that game so if I recall, the Wildcats never led by more than 6 points or so in the entire second half.

These two teams played each other basket for basket and possession by possession, and I expect more of the same to go down tonight. As most of us know, the Wildcats do their best to keep all 5 of their starters on the court for as long as they can, and Boo Buie was the leading scorer that night with 20.

Speaking of leading scorer, in the last outing against Michigan, Buie became the all-time Northwestern points scorer passing John Shurna’s (2008—2012) previous team record of 2,038 career points. Buie knows that he needs to be the leader on the court night after night down the stretch, and all he has done is answer the call time and again!

Over the last 9 games, Buie hasn’t been held to less than 14 points, and he broke out for 20+ 5 times during the recent run. When you lead your team in assists and barely cause a turnover or two every night, your team wins games, period!

I will say that Northwestern wins this game 78 – 75 in another tight contest, but just in case it’s the other way around, we will easily cash the +5.5 ticket on the Cats!

• Selection: Northwestern Wildcats +5.5 Handicap
• Best Odds: 1.91
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stakes: 4/10

GAME INFO

• Thursday, February 29th
• Time: 00:03 (CET)
• Venue: XFINITY Center, College Park, MD

Odds

Odds are available as of 08:00, February 28. Odds may now differ.

MARYLAND TERRAPINS VS NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS TRENDS

• Northwestern has hit the Game Total Over in 21 of their last 32 games.
• Northwestern has only hit the 1H Game Total Under in 14 of their last 33 games.
• Northwestern has covered the Spread in 17 of their last 32 games.
• Maryland has only covered the Spread in 15 of their last 34 games.

MARYLAND TERRAPINS SCHEDULE AND FORM

• March 3rd Home vs Indiana Hoosiers
• March 10th AT Penn State Nittany Lions

Maryland has lost 5 of their last 7 games, and they lost the first meeting with the Wildcats on January 14, 72 – 69.

The Terps leading scorer Jahmir Young just had his 4-game run of 20+ points snapped in the last outing against Rutgers. Young averages 20.1 PPG this year, and he converts over 90% of his free throw attempts.

The Terapins are ranked 334th in the country in team assists, whereas the Wildcats are the polar opposite among the best in the country in that category.

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS SCHEDULE AND FORM

• March 2nd Home vs Iowa Hawkeyes
• March 6th AT Michigan State Spartans
• March 9th Home vs Minnesota Golden Gophers

The Wildcats offense has a team 3-point percentage of 39.5%, and that ranks them 6th in the nation shooting from behind the arc.

Northwestern’s 3-point shooting prowess is impressive, as four players average no worse than 41.3% from distance. Buie and Ryan Langborg are shooting 41.3% and 41.7% respectively, and Ty Berry is up to 43.3% from behind the arc.

The Wildcats are ranked 6th in the country in fewest turnovers, and their assist-to-turnover ratio lands them in the 4th spot in the rankings.

One team takes care of the ball, and the other doesn’t, so we have ourselves an upset brewing tonight in College Park!

SAFER GAMBLING

At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.