Maryland and UCLA will square off in the Big Ten on Saturday night. The Terrapins are 4-2 going into this game and will try to deny UCLA their third straight win against Big Ten competition. The Terps will also be looking to end a two-game losing streak when they take the field at the Rose Bowl. Here, I break down this matchup and bring you my Maryland vs UCLA prediction for Saturday’s game.
Our Maryland vs UCLA Pick
- Pick: UCLA -3.5
- Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Maryland Terrapins vs UCLA Bruins
- Date & Time: Saturday, October 18, 2025, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
- Broadcast: FS1
Key Storylines
- UCLA’s big turnaround: After an 0–4 start and the firing of head coach DeShaun Foster, the Bruins have rallied with wins over Penn State and Michigan State. The offensive mindset has shifted under the team’s new leadership, with UCLA averaging 40 points per game during their two-game winning streak since Foster’s departure.
- Maryland’s losing streak: The Terps have struggled in the fourth quarter recently, being outscored 31-0 in the final quarter of their last two contests. Maryland started this season with a 4-0 record but have dropped two games in a row thanks to their struggles finishing games.
- Long travel: Maryland must cross the country to play this game. That has become a challenge for Big Ten teams when playing on the opposite coast. Handling jet lag and body clock adjustments could influence the outcome of this game.
- Historical rarity: This is the first meeting between these teams at the Rose Bowl since 1955. We will see this matchup happen there more often now that UCLA and Maryland are in the same conference.
Quarterback Play
Maryland’s Malik Washington has thrown for 1,506 yards on 137/220 passing with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions so far this season. He has been accurate and relatively mistake-free. He will need to stay that way to keep up with the recent offensive output of the Bruins.
UCLA relies on Nico Iamaleava at the quarterback position. He has amassed 1,134 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also has four rushing touchdowns. He has five touchdown passes and no interceptions during UCLA’s two-game winning streak.
Betting Trends
- UCLA is 3-3 against the spread so far this season. The Bruins have covered the spread in back-to-back games leading up to this one.
- Maryland is 4-2 against the spread coming into this game.
- Both teams have had four of their first six games go under their totals.
Maryland vs UCLA Model Projection
Score Projection: Maryland 24 – UCLA 31
Win Probability: Maryland 43%, UCLA 57%
Final Thoughts
UCLA is playing like a completely different football team of late. They are moving the ball more effectively, cutting back on turnovers, and finding more stops on defense. I expect those things to continue for the most part. I recommend laying the points with a UCLA team that has all of the momentum coming into this Big Ten contest.
