Ohio State vs Maryland Betting Preview (Feb. 5, 2026): Odds, Trends, Player Stats & Pick

Ohio State heads into College Park on Thursday night knowing this is exactly the kind of game that can quietly shape a season. Maryland, meanwhile, is searching for something to stabilize a difficult year, and a nationally relevant opponent at home offers that rare chance to flip the narrative.

Game information

• Matchup: Ohio State Buckeyes at Maryland Terrapins
• Date: Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Venue: XFINITY Center (College Park, MD)
• TV: FS1

Latest betting odds

• Spread: Ohio State -7
• Moneyline: Ohio State -320 | Maryland +260
• Total: 151

Ohio State breakdown

Ohio State comes in at 14–7 overall and 6–5 in Big Ten play, and the identity of this team is pretty clear by now. The Buckeyes want to score, they want to space the floor, and they’re comfortable letting multiple players create.

They’re averaging 82.2 points per game, one of the better marks in the conference, and the efficiency at the top of the roster has been impressive.

Key contributors:

• Bruce Thornton: 19.5 PPG, 55.4% FG, 40.8% from three, 83.5% FT
• John Mobley Jr.: 15.8 PPG, 40.4% 3PT on high volume
• Devin Royal: 14.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG
• Christoph Tilly: 11.7 PPG

Thornton is the engine. When Ohio State needs a bucket late in the shot clock, he’s the guy who can get downhill or calmly rise into a jumper. Mobley’s shooting stretches defenses in a way that’s hard to fake on a scouting report, and Royal gives them a strong finisher who doesn’t need plays called for him.

One quiet positive for bettors: Ohio State doesn’t rely on one scorer having a perfect night. Even when one starter is off, the Buckeyes can still reach the high 70s or low 80s because the usage is spread out.

The concern and it’s not a small one is road form. Ohio State has dropped three straight away from home, and College Park has been a tricky stop historically. Still, this is arguably the cleanest offensive matchup they’ve had on the road in weeks.

Maryland breakdown

Maryland’s season has been rough. The Terrapins sit at 8–13 overall and 1–9 in conference play, and the numbers paint a pretty honest picture.

• Scoring: 72.5 PPG
• Points allowed: 79.7 PPG
• Team FG%: .402
• Assists: 10.3 per game

The biggest question entering this game is health. Pharrel Payne, Maryland’s leading scorer at 17.5 PPG, has missed the last 10 games with a leg injury and remains questionable. If he’s out again or clearly limited, Maryland’s offense becomes far easier to defend.

That puts extra pressure on Diggy Coit, who leads the team at 14.8 PPG and has shown a very high ceiling. Coit has already had multiple 40-point games this season, including a record-setting night at home. The problem is consistency when he’s bottled up, Maryland struggles to generate easy looks.

Maryland just lost by 30 points in its most recent game, a result that underlines how thin the margin for error has become. The effort hasn’t been the issue; execution has.

One thing worth noting for totals bettors: Maryland’s defense has been slipping, particularly in transition and on kick-out threes. Even in losses, games have had a tendency to speed up.

Injury report

• Ohio State:
  • Braylen Noel (questionable, foot)
  • John Ojianwuna (questionable, knee)
• Maryland:
  • Pharrel Payne (questionable, leg)

Betting trends

Here are the most useful angles heading into tip-off:

1. The total has gone OVER in 4 of Ohio State’s last 5 games
2. Maryland is 1–4 ATS in its last five games
3. The total has gone OVER in 4 of Maryland’s last 5 games
4. Maryland is 1–7 straight up in its last eight games
5. The total has gone OVER in 7 of Maryland’s last 9 home games
6. Maryland is 7–1 ATS in its last 8 home games vs Ohio State
7. Maryland is 0–12 straight up in its last 12 games as an underdog

Matchup keys

• Perimeter defense: Maryland has struggled closing out shooters, and Ohio State has multiple 40% three-point threats.
• Shot creation late: Ohio State has Thornton. Maryland, without Payne, often doesn’t.
• Game flow: If Maryland falls behind early, the offense tends to rush, which plays into Ohio State’s strengths.

Best bet & prediction

Best bet: Ohio State -6.5 (playable to -7)

Projected score:
Ohio State 82, Maryland 72