Maryland football opens as double-digit favorite for Friday night game vs. Northern Illinois

Ahmed Ghafir
3 days ago
2 min read

With the season opener in the rear view mirror, Maryland football will look to shift its attention toward a short week as they welcome Northern Illinois to College Park for a Friday night kickoff at 7:30 PM on Sept. 5 on BTN. And just like week one, the Terps will do so as double-digit favorites after Maryland opened as a 16.5-point favorite, per DraftKings.

ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Maryland an 86% chance at moving to 2-0.

This marks the fourth-ever meeting between the two teams as Maryland looks for its third all-time win against the Huskies in College Park. Maryland escaped with a 23-20 win at home to kick off 2004 season, avenging a 20-13 loss the year prior.

Fast forward to today, Northern Illinois is coming off a 19-17 win vs. Holy Cross at home as the Huskies look to reload after an eight-win season that ended in the second bowl win in as many seasons for head coach Thomas Hammock.

Maryland, meanwhile, will look to build on a 32-point win vs. Florida Atlantic, thanks to a 26-point second quarter sparked by QB Malik Washington’s three touchdown passes.

Maryland will look to move to 3-0 all-time vs. Northern Illinois with a chance to win their second Friday night game in three seasons and fourth Friday night game in six games. Maryland Athletics previously announced the game as its ‘Sundown Showdown,’ a country-themed Friday night under the lights, complete with free glow sticks for fans.

“It's back to work as quickly as we can get there. This will be a short lived celebration for us with a short week and Northern Illinois coming in here on Friday night to The Shell. And I know our team's excited to be able to get the things corrected, get back on the field this week and put together a game plan to find a way to take care of business next Friday night,” head coach Mike Locksley said following Saturday’s win.

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