The Maryland Terrapins and the UConn Huskies are on a collision course in the first round of the 2021 March Madness. In this Big Ten-Big East matchup, which team will advance to the next round? Check out our preview of this game along with our pick to win this matchup and the final score.
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Betting Preview for the Maryland Terrapins vs UConn Huskies NCAA College Basketball Game on March 20 2021
Where: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, IN
When: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 7:10 PM ET
Line: Maryland Terrapins (+2.5) vs. UConn Huskies (-2.5) – view all 2021 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Maryland Terrapins (+2.5)
Record: 16-13 Overall / 9-11 Conference
There’s nothing about the Terrapins that jumps out of their resume, but it’s worth noting here that this is a team that had wins in the regular season over the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Wisconsin Badgers. Those wins tell you just how high the ceiling of this team finished with a sub-.500 record in the Big Ten, but that’s the Big Ten we are talking about. Maryland features a couple of big guards that can play the 1. Eric Ayala and Darryl Morsell both stand 6-5 and weigh 200 pounds. Maryland has the second-biggest set of point guards, so expect the Terps to use that size advantage in the backcourt to bully UConn’s defenders. Ayala (14.9 PPG) and Aaron Wiggins (14.0) are the top options on offense for the Terps, who are averaging 68.8 points per contest.
The under is 5-1 in Maryland’s last six games overall.
Betting on the UConn Huskies (-2.5)
Record: 15-7 Overall / 11-6 Conference
If you need to know just one thing about the Huskies, it’s got to be James Bouknight. UConn’s star shooting guard is arguably the best player in the Big East this season. He is averaging 19.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. UConn is hoping that Bouknight will be able to carry the team against Maryland, but the Huskies are more than just about him. UConn can play tremendous defense. The Huskies have the best defensive efficiency among Big East teams this season, which can be largely credited to their offensive rebounding. UConn finished the regular season 10th in the nation with 11.4 offensive rebounds per game and sixth in offensive rebounding percentage (36%).
UConn is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
Maryland wins, 67-65.
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