Ohio State @ Maryland preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 7, 2017 ) Maryland 14, Ohio State 62

No. 8 Ohio State looks to remain in the playoff hunt when it visits Maryland on Saturday in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes are ranked 10th in the College Football Playoff rankings and can't afford a stumble against the Terrapins, who lost redshirt freshman quarterback Kasim Hill to a season-ending ACL tear last weekend.

Ohio State hurt its playoff chances when it was thumped 49-20 by Purdue last month and there is a perception that its 9-1 record isn't all that shiny. "First of all, it’s a product of Ohio State," Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer said at a press conference. "You know, it’s a product of the top programs in America. You go on the road and win by 20 points against a ranked (Michigan State) team. And what happened? What’s the problem? What about this? What about that? But I get it. I don’t think we played great either at times." The Terrapins have endured a tough season that included the offseason workout death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair and now face another challenge with Hill suffering the second torn ACL of his career. "It’s very disappointing," Maryland interim coach Matt Canada told reporters. "There’s no words to say to make it any better. Great kid, a kid who worked so hard and battled his way back (from the first ACL). He will again, but certainly a very, very hard situation for him and his family."

TV: Noon ET, ABC. LINE: Ohio State -14.5

ABOUT OHIO STATE (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten): Sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr. (3,280 yards) has fired 33 touchdown passes against six interceptions and needs just 51 yards to pass the school mark held by Joe Germaine (3,330 in 1998). The backfield duo of sophomore J.K. Dobbins and junior Mike Weber are sharing the duties and also the yardage with Dobbins holding a 712 to 711 edge. The Buckeyes allow 22 points per game and continue to miss the departed Nick Bosa, but junior defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones (team-high 6.5 sacks) has been a consistent bright spot.

ABOUT MARYLAND (5-5, 3-4): Sophomore Tyrrell Pigrome will be the starter in place of Hill (nine touchdowns, four interceptions) after he came off the bench to go 10-of-13 for 146 yards and one touchdown in last Saturday's 34-32 loss to Indiana. Running back Anthony McFarland (724 yards) will surely receive a lot of carries after setting the school single-game freshman record with 210 rushing yards against the Hoosiers. Maryland leads the nation with 17 interceptions with senior linebacker Tre Watson accumulating five to go with a team-high 98 tackles while junior safety Darnell Savage Jr. has four interceptions.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ohio State has won all four previous meetings.

2. Weber rushed for a touchdown against Michigan State for his first score since finding the end zone four times (three rushing, one receiving) in the season opener against Oregon State.

3. Terrapins senior RB Ty Johnson (calf) is a game-time decision after aggravating the injury against Indiana.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 48, Maryland 27