Tale of the Tape: How Wisconsin Matches Up With Maryland

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin (2-1) opens up Big Ten Conference play against undefeated Maryland (3-0) on Saturday. The Badgers return home after getting handled 38-14 at No. 14 Alabama. UW and the Terrapins will be meeting for the first time since 2022. The Badgers have won all four prior meeting Here’s a look at how the two teams match up with one another heading into Saturday…

Wisconsin Offense vs. Maryland Defense

Pass Game: Advantage Maryland

When Wisconsin has the ball, they have to be wary of the Maryland pass rush. The Terrapins are second in the Big Ten and No. 10 nationally in sacks per game. The Badgers are giving up a sack on 8.4 percent of their quarterback dropbacks, which ranks No. 98 in the country. Per Pro Football Focus, the Terps have the 12th highest-graded pass rush in FBS. Meanwhile, UW ranks No. 72 in pass blocking and has had an abysmal time keeping the quarterback clean.

Maryland is also No. 1 in the country in interceptions per game (3.0). The Terps had a whopping six interceptions in their 39-7 win over Florida Atlantic in week one, which was the most for the program in a single game since 1998. Sophomore quarterback Danny O’Neil, who may not start on Saturday, has thrown four interceptions in 2.5 games.

Run Game: Push

Has Wisconsin run the ball as well as expected under first-year offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes? Absolutely not. The Badgers rank No. 90 in the country, getting just 136.7 yards per game on the ground. However, Maryland is No. 10 in the Big Ten in rushing defense, allowing just over 102 yards per game while not having faced a power-four opponent yet. Pro Football Focus grades the Terrapins as the sixth-best run defense in the country, but that may get put to the test on Saturday.

X-Factor

Third down is where Wisconsin could flip this game in their favor. Despite the lack of scoring through three weeks, the Badgers have been fantastic on third, and even fourth down. UW is converting 50.0 percent of their third down opportunities and 80 percent on fourth down. Maryland, again against a very weak schedule, is only getting off the field on 35 percent of third third down opportunities.

Maryland Offense vs. Wisconsin Defense

Pass Game: Advantage Maryland

Can the Wisconsin secondary hold up? Last week, the Badgers were picked apart by Alabama and quarterback Ty Simpson, who threw for nearly 400 yards and made it look easy. UW now ranks No. 110 nationally in passing efficiency defense.

Maryland ranks No. 36 in passing yards per game (261.0), but only 10 teams in FBS throw the ball more than they do. Quarterback Malik Washington is completing 61 percent of his passes for 773 yards and six touchdowns to one interception. The Terrapins also have four receivers with over 100 yards and at least 10 catches.

Run Game: Advantage Wisconsin

It’s almost a sure thing that the Badgers are going to make the Terps one-dimensional. Wisconsin ranks fourth nationally in run defense (46.3) and fifth yards per rush (1.9). Maryland is rushing for under 100 yards per game as a team. The Terps only run the ball 29.0 times per game, which ranks No. 108 nationally.

X-Factor

Despite having a true freshman quarterback, Maryland has not turned the ball over much this season. Washington has just one interception. As an offense, the Terps rank second in the country in turnover margin (+2.5) and No. 20 in giveaways (.2 per game). Wisconsin’s defense has been improved in takeaways so far this season. Through three games, the Badgers have three interceptions. That’s one fewer than they had all of last season.

Early Prediction

For all the talk of the electricity of the Maryland offense, they’re not putting up great numbers against a cupcake schedule. The Terrapins have faced Florida Atlantic, Northern Illinois, and Towson. Per Pro Football Focus, the best team in that group is FAU (83), which has the 68th highest-graded defense in the country. Maryland is outside the top 50 in three of four major offensive statistical categories after three weeks.

Watching Maryland against Northern Illinois, the Huskies were able to run the ball well and gash the Terps at times. As a team, NIU ran for 180 yards and only threw the bal 22 times. That’s good news for a Wisconsin team that’s trying to get something going on the ground and hopes to be able to lean on its offensive line in Big Ten play.

Meanwhile, this was a game where Malik Washington, as good as he is, looked like a true freshman. Washington had a terrible fumble in the third quarter near the end zone. His touchdown pass that put the game away was well behind his target. Fortunately for Maryland, the NIU defensive back couldn’t adjust to it and fell down.

Saturday will also be Maryland’s first real test of the season. They’re already a very highly penalized team, committing nearly nine infractions per game. That ranks No. 118 out of 134 FBS schools. By comparison, Wisconsin commits under four penalties per game.

I think you could argue that Maryland does some things that will give Wisconsin real fits. However, I’ll roll with the team that kills itself less, has been tested, and won’t be one-dimensional. I’m also banking on Billy Edwards returning. At home, the Badgers should be desperate here with a grueling schedule looming.

Wisconsin 24 Maryland 17