Ohio State hosts Maryland on Saturday afternoon as a 32.5-point favorite, and the size of that number is the story. Ohio State is 4-1 and ranked fifth in the AP poll. Maryland arrives 2-3 and winless in Big Ten play, having lost three straight by an average of nearly four touchdowns. Yet the spread has already moved toward the underdog, and the favorite’s receiver room is thinner than it was a week ago. Both of our picks follow that thread.
Last Updated: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Maryland vs. Ohio State — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Ohio Stadium, Columbus OH |
| When | Saturday, October 10 – 4:15 PM ET |
| TV | Big Ten Network |
Maryland vs. Ohio State Betting Preview
Ohio State is 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten. The lone blemish is a one-point road loss at Texas. Since then Ohio State has scored at will, averaging 42.2 points per game while allowing 12.6. Last week they beat then-No. 14 Iowa 31-14 in Iowa City. AP voters rewarded that with the No. 5 spot in this week’s Top 25.
Julian Sayin has been the steadiest part of it. He has completed 72.5 percent of his throws for 1,530 yards with 13 touchdowns and one interception, and he went 20-of-27 for 324 yards at Iowa. Jeremiah Smith is the centerpiece on the perimeter, with 11 catches for 206 yards and two scores in that game. The complication is depth. Receiver Amari Valerio-Hudson is out, Brandon Inniss is on the availability report, and offensive linemen Jaxon Powell and Vasean Washington are both ruled out.
Maryland is in a worse place. Maryland is 2-3 and 0-2 in conference play after losses to Virginia Tech (35-26), UCLA (54-3) and at Nebraska (48-23). The defense allows 30.2 points and 335 yards per game. Sophomore quarterback Malik Washington has 1,288 passing yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions, five of those picks in the last two weeks. Pass rusher Zahir Mathis is out for the season. Mike Locksley is 0-4 against Ohio State, and Ryan Day is 4-0 the other way.
Maryland vs. Ohio State Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | +32.5 (-105) | — | U 56.5 (-110) |
| Ohio State | -32.5 (-115) | — | O 56.5 (-110) |
Odds accurate as of October 10, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NCAAF Odds – Futures – Props
Maryland vs. Ohio State — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Maryland | 27% | 73% | Ohio State |
See the latest College Football Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Maryland vs. Ohio State Prediction — Why Did This Number Move the Wrong Way?
Start with the market. This line opened at 35 on October 4 and has since shortened by two and a half points. That is movement toward the underdog. Meanwhile, 73 percent of spread tickets sit on Ohio State. When the public piles onto one side and the number travels the other way, the money that matters usually disagrees with the crowd.
The injury news supports that move. Ohio State’s receiver room is short two bodies, two linemen are unavailable, and Ohio State travels to Indiana next week. Day has no reason to leave Sayin and Smith on the field into the fourth quarter of a decided game. Margins this large usually require the favorite to keep scoring after the result is settled. A thinner depth chart and a look-ahead spot both cut against that.
The case against the underdog is real. Maryland lost by 51 to UCLA and gave up 48 at Nebraska, so there is recent evidence the floor is low. Ohio State is 4-1 against the spread and has covered both times it was favored by more than 33 points. Washington’s six interceptions in two weeks are how a 35-point game becomes a 52-point game. If Maryland hands over three short fields, no amount of line movement helps.
The Pick: Maryland +32.5 (-105)
Maryland vs. Ohio State Prediction — Does a Lopsided Scoreboard Mean More Points?
The totals market has nudged up half a point since it opened, and the trend data points the other way. Ohio State games have averaged 53.5 combined points this season. Maryland games have averaged 53.9. Both figures sit below the current number. The reason is the Ohio State defense, which allows 12.6 points and 267 yards per game. Ohio State can reach the mid-40s alone, but Maryland has already scored three points against one good defense.
The over case is not empty. Maryland has gone over in four of five games, Ohio State in three of five, and Ohio State has posted 56 and 59 at home. A quick-strike offense facing a secondary that has been picked apart can run things up before halftime. The counterweight is tempo. Once Ohio State is three scores clear, the clock runs and the backups grind out possessions.
The Pick: Under 56.5 (-110)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
No moneyline is priced in our engine for this game and there is no alternate-line market to work with, so there is no third angle worth forcing. The read is straightforward. Ohio State should win comfortably, and the two live questions are how long the starters play and how many points arrive after the outcome stops being in doubt. Both of our positions answer those questions the same way. For more this week, see our latest Big Ten picks coverage and recent college football picks.
Our picks: Maryland +32.5 (-105) and Under 56.5 (-110).
NCAAF Maryland vs. Ohio State FAQ: Saturday October 10, 2026
What time does the Maryland vs. Ohio State game start?
Kickoff is 4:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 10, 2026. The Big Ten and both schools confirmed the window in late September. It is the afternoon television slot, following the noon Big Ten games and preceding the prime-time window on a full Week 6 slate.
What channel is the Maryland vs. Ohio State game on?
Big Ten Network carries the broadcast. BTN was assigned the game when the conference released its television slate in late September, and both athletic departments list the network on their official game information. No simulcast on another linear network has been announced for this matchup.
Where are Maryland and Ohio State playing?
The game is at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, which is Ohio State’s home venue. This is a standard conference road game for Maryland, not a neutral-site matchup. It is the sixth meeting between the two programs played in Columbus since Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2014.
Who is starting at quarterback for Maryland and Ohio State?
Julian Sayin starts for Ohio State and Malik Washington starts for Maryland. Sayin has thrown for 1,530 yards with 13 touchdowns and one interception this season. Washington, a sophomore in his second year as the starter, has 1,288 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions.
Who won the last meeting between Maryland and Ohio State?
Ohio State won the last meeting 37-17 in Columbus in 2023. Ohio State leads the all-time series 9-0, with every meeting coming since Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2014. The average margin across those nine games is just over 32 points.