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Saturday's full college football TV schedule
| Time (ET) | TV | |
|---|---|---|
| UAB @ Arkansas | 12:00 PM | SECN |
| Minnesota @ Illinois | 12:00 PM | ESPNU |
| Texas @ (11) Kansas State | 12:00 PM | ESPN |
| Rutgers @ (16) Nebraska | 12:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Maryland @ Wisconsin | 12:00 PM | BTN/BTN2 |
| North Texas @ Rice | 12:00 PM | FSN |
| Memphis @ Southern Methodist | 12:00 PM | ESPNN |
| North Carolina @ Virginia | 12:30 PM | ESPN3/ESPNGP |
| San Jose State @ Navy | 1:00 PM | CBSS |
| Northern Illinois @ Eastern Michigan | 1:00 PM | ESPN3 |
| (25) UCLA @ Colorado | 2:00 PM | PACN |
| Akron @ Ball State | 2:00 PM | ESPN3 |
| Massachusetts @ Toledo | 2:00 PM | ESPN3/ESPNGP |
| Ohio @ Western Michigan | 2:00 PM | ESPN3 |
| Georgia Southern @ Georgia State | 2:00 PM | ESPN3 |
| Kent State @ Miami (OH) | 2:30 PM | ESPN3 |
| (1) Mississippi State @ Kentucky | 3:30 PM | CBS |
| Michigan @ (8) Michigan State | 3:30 PM | ABC/ESPN3 |
| Georgia Tech @ Pittsburgh | 3:30 PM | ESPNU |
| Boston College @ Wake Forest | 3:30 PM | ESPN3/ESPNGP |
| (22) West Virginia @ Oklahoma State | 3:30 PM | ESPN |
| Texas Tech @ (10) TCU | 3:30 PM | FOX |
| Oregon State @ Stanford | 3:30 PM | ESPN2 |
| Florida Atlantic @ (23) Marshall | 3:30 PM | FS1 |
| Louisiana Tech @ Southern Miss | 3:30 PM | AMSN |
| Central Michigan @ Buffalo | 3:30 PM | ESPN3 |
| Vanderbilt @ Missouri | 4:00 PM | SECN |
| Old Dominion @ Western Kentucky | 4:00 PM | |
| UNLV @ Utah State | 4:00 PM | ESPNN |
| Temple @ UCF | 5:00 PM | CBSS |
| (15) Arizona @ Washington State | 6:00 PM | PACN |
| Syracuse @ (21) Clemson | 7:00 PM | ESPNU |
| UTEP @ Texas-San Antonio | 7:00 PM | AMSN |
| Wyoming @ Colorado State | 7:00 PM | ROOT |
| Texas State @ Louisiana-Monroe | 7:00 PM | ESPN3/ESPNGP |
| (3) Mississippi @ (24) LSU | 7:15 PM | ESPN |
| (4) Alabama @ Tennessee | 7:30 PM | ESPN2 |
| South Carolina @ (5) Auburn | 7:30 PM | SECN |
| (13) Ohio State @ Penn State | 8:00 PM | ABC |
| (20) USC @ (19) Utah | 10:00 PM | FS1 |
| (14) Arizona State @ Washington | 10:45 PM | ESPN |
| Nevada @ Hawaii | 11:59 PM | OCPV |
The predictions
Jake Harris: Maryland 31, Wisconsin 21
Mike Fiammetta: Wisconsin 31, Maryland 24
Andy Johnson: Wisconsin 38, Maryland 27
Andrew Rosin: Wisconsin 31, Maryland 26
Phil Mitten: Wisconsin 34, Maryland 28
Jake Kocorowski: Wisconsin 31, Maryland 28
Drew Hamm: Wisconsin 35, Maryland 31
Louis Bien: Wisconsin 28, Maryland 24
The reasoning
Wisconsin has a dreadful 1-11 record in its last 12 games decided by 10 or fewer points. The Badgers were riding an 11-game losing streak in such games before hanging on for a 10-point win over Illinois two weeks ago. Our panel believes UW is poised to finally turn the tide in tight games by picking up a close victory over Big Ten newcomer Maryland on Homecoming in Madison.
The Terrapins are off to a somewhat surprising 5-2 start in 2014, including a perfect 3-0 mark on the road. Maryland has visited South Florida, Syracuse, and Indiana so far this season and has returned to College Park victorious each time. The Terps were blown out at home by Ohio State, but their only other defeat was a 3-point loss to a West Virginia team that just took down Baylor.
Maryland's passing game will create challenges for Wisconsin's secondary. The Terrapins boast one of the most talented wide receivers in the game in junior Stefon Diggs. The Maryland native has caught 45 passes for 580 yards and four touchdowns in seven games. Diggs is coming off of a 9-catch, 130-yard performance in a win over Iowa last week. Meanwhile, sophomore Wisconsin cornerback Sojourn Shelton is enduring one of the biggest slumps of his football career and received some words of wisdom from former Badger Scott Starks this week. Expect junior Darius Hillary, who is quietly having a stellar season, to match up with Diggs for most of the game.
The rest of Maryland's offensive personnel is not bad, either. Senior quarterback C.J. Brown has completed just 56.8 percent of his passes with a 7-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio, but he has had his share of bright moments this season. Brown threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns in the Terps' win over Syracuse. He has also run for five touchdowns in 2014. Brown has taken 16 sacks in seven games, though, so the Badgers' front seven will be licking their chops.
The Terrapins do most of their damage through the air, as the quarterback Brown is the team's leading rusher with 362 yards on 85 carries. As a team, Maryland averages 4.1 yards per carry. Junior running back Brandon Ross leads the tailbacks with 251 yards on just 52 carries.
Defensively, Maryland is questionable against the run, giving up 198.3 yards per game in that department, and that should bode well for Melvin Gordon, Corey Clement, and a Wisconsin rushing attack that leads the nation in averaging 343 yards per game on the ground.
Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig continues to drive many Badger fans crazy by insisting that the two-quarterback system will be in effect, with junior Tanner McEvoy taking more snaps than he did against Illinois. Expect Wisconsin not to throw much more than necessary, because while the Terps are woeful against the run, sophomore William Likely lurks in the secondary. The ultra-talented defensive back has four interceptions already this season, two of which he has returned for touchdowns.
Likely is also a dangerous punt returner, averaging 17.9 yards per return, and he will test Wisconsin's coverage units in this game.
Who has the edge?
Offense: Maryland
Defense: Wisconsin
Special Teams: Maryland
Coaching: Wisconsin
Intangibles: Wisconsin