Northwestern @ Maryland preview

A pair of Big Ten teams looking to rebound from blowout losses meet Saturday afternoon when Northwestern visits Maryland. The Terrapins won their conference opener at Minnesota before suffering a 62-14 loss at Ohio State last week while amassing only 66 yards - their lowest total since 1960.

Max Bortenschlager, who was bumped into the starting role after injuries to the team's top two quarterbacks, had a grand total of 16 yards and was sacked more times (five) than he had completions (three). Bortenschlager was forced from the game after a hard hit in the third quarter and remains day-to-day, according to head coach DJ Durkin, which could give a start to preseason fourth-stringer Caleb Henderson. The Wildcats had three turnovers and junior quarterback Clayton Thorson continued to struggle in last week's 31-7 home loss to Penn State. Saturday will mark the first meeting between Northwestern and Maryland, which joined the Big Ten in 2014.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Northwestern -4

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten): Thorson has seven TDs and seven picks one year after posting 22 and nine, respectively, and star senior running back Justin Jackson has been slow to get going after three straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald cites issues along the offensive line as the primary culprit for the Big Ten's 11th-ranked scoring offense (25.6 points). "I don't have another solution because I'm trying to get five guys to play constantly," he said of the line. "When five guys emerge, then five guys will play."

ABOUT MARYLAND (3-2, 1-1): Henderson has attempted two passes - one this year and one in 2015 - and neither were completed, but he was on the field for a late, meaningless touchdown drive against the Buckeyes. Regardless of who is under center, he will lean heavily on the conference's third-ranked rushing attack (196.8 yards per game), which is led by Ty Johnson. The junior leads the Big Ten in yards per carry at 8.1 and has four of Maryland's 13 rushing scores, which ties the team for second in that category in the conference.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Fitzgerald began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant with Maryland in 1998.

2. Terrapins WR D.J. Moore had at least seven catches and a TD in each of his first four games before being held to two grabs with no scores against Ohio State.

3. Thorson needs 25 passing yards to pass Trevor Siemian (5,931) and seize fourth place on the program's all-time list.

PREDICTION: Northwestern 27, Maryland 24