Northwestern (1-5 SU, 2-4 ATS, 1-2 B10) travels to College Park to take on Maryland (5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS, 2-2 B10) on Saturday at 3:30pmET in a Big 10 matchup.
The Wildcats are having a rough season, having lost five straight games. The good news is that they are coming off a bye. The Terps have a bye next week and could probably use one after QB Taulia Tagovailoa (knee) was injured last week in their 38-33 road win over Indiana as a 10.5-point favorite.
These teams have not met since 2020 when the Wildcats thumped Maryland 43-3 at home.
Northwestern opened the season beating Nebraska 31-28 and have lost five straight games since then. That included an embarrassing 31-24 home loss to FCS Southern Illinois. This was the same program that went to the 2020 Big 10 Championship Game, but has faltered the last two seasons, going 3-9 last season and 1-5 this year. In their last game on Oct. 15, they were thumped 42-7 at home to Wisconsin. This is the same Badgers team that just fired head coach Paul Chryst. The Badgers put up over 500 yards of offense and held the Wildcats to just 79 rushing yards.
Wildcat Wrap Up – Week 6:
?? CFB Mental Health Week
?? Visit to @LurieChildrens Hospital
?? 2012 Gator Bowl Team Reunion
?? Gothic Jerseys
?? @bsully02 ?? @AnthonyTyusIII TD@lolowithrow breaks it down here! pic.twitter.com/MaATVbeF70— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) October 1 0, 2022
Quarterback Ryan Hilinksi (10-of-22, 147 yds, 2 INTs) really struggled and then was replaced due to injury by sophomore Brendan Sullivan, who completed 11 of 17 for 114 yards and a TD. Hilinski has struggled this season with a 57.4% completion rate, 1,551 yards, six TDs and six INTs. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald had planned to use Sullivan at times during the game.
The Wildcats could go with Sullivan as Hilinski is listed as questionable due to a concussion. He has led the team with 282 yards passing (29th) and they have to pass, because they can't run the ball (112.3ypg) with any consistency. They also can't score enough points to win games (17.7ppg) and they rank 120th in turnover average (-1.00) with a -6 turnover margin.
Defensively, at times, Northwestern has been very good. They gave up just 17 points in their 10-point loss to Penn State on Oct. 1. They allow 406 yards per game (95th), with 230 passing yards (69th) and 176 rushing yards (104th).
Evan Hull leads the Wildcats with 428 yards rushing on 4.1 yards per carry and three TDs.