After Northwestern earned a 33-27 victory over Maryland in Evanston last season, the ‘Cats travel to Maryland for their third game of conference action. With NU looking to win in College Park for the first time since 2017, our staffers think the battle between the ‘Cats and Terrapins will go down tonight:

Adam Beck: Maryland 35, Northwest 17

This Maryland passing attack will have a big day against Northwestern’s secondary. Billy Edwards Jr. has done well this season and with Tai Felton and Kaden Prather on the outside, Northwestern’s secondary will likely contend for its third straight Big Ten game. Jack Lausch looked better against Indiana, but Maryland’s offense might be too powerful for the ‘Cats offense to have any say in this one.

Brendan Preisman: Maryland 28, Northwest 21

This game will be a combination of great defenses (Northwestern ranks 18th, Maryland 34th) against pretty bad rushing offenses (101st and 79th, respectively). The key to Maryland’s success this season has been turnover luck: the Terrapins are +11 on the season and tied for the best mark in the country. Billy Edwards Jr. runs the offense incredibly well, and his success in the RPO game provides a bleak forecast for Friday’s game considering how badly the Wildcats’ secondary was burned by Kurtis Rourke and Indiana last week. My bold prediction: Joe Himon II gets a kick return touchdown to keep Northwestern in it, but the ‘Cats’ offense fades in the fourth and Tai Felton seals the deal with a long score.

Charlie Jacobs: Maryland 28, Northwest 20

Even though Billy Edwards Jr. not as good as Kurtis Rourke, he’s still one of the better passers in the country. Northwestern has been torched by Denzel Boston and Elijah Sarratt in their two previous Big Ten matchups, but their toughest test now comes in Tai Felton and his sixth-most receiving yards in the country. The secondary for the ‘Cats still needs to be better, but the front seven should play better. With the Terrapins fresh off a bye and the ‘Cats having a short week on the road, Jack Lausch will need to rack up points against a well-rested team after his breakout game against Indiana. But even with an improved Lausch, this Maryland offense will prove too overwhelming for this Northwestern secondary and seal the win for the Terps.

Ascher Levin: Northwest 21, Maryland 17

Quarterback Billy Edwards has led the Terrapins to a good start, rushing for 1,444 yards and 11 touchdowns with just two interceptions. His favorite receiver, Tai Felton, has 642 yards and five touchdowns in five games. Northwestern will need to make sure it improves its passing defense, especially after getting shredded by Kurtis Rourke. Maryland, coming off a bye week, will have an advantage in preparation, while Northwestern has a short week. Offensively, Northwestern showed flashes of promise against Indiana, with Jack Lausch leading one of their more complete performances this season. While Lausch had his inconsistent moments, if the ‘Cats can maintain that level of play from last week, they will have a chance to have a solid offensive game. Additionally, last week’s defensive woes, with the likely return of defensive lineman Carmine Bastone, should prove to be an aberration. With the team’s devastating bowl game hopes on the line, I predict NU will pull off an upset as 10-point underdogs.

Natalie Wells: Maryland 27, Northwest 23

I want to believe the ‘Cats will upset the Terps in College Park. Really and truly. When I think about this game, my mind immediately goes back to NU’s 21-point comeback win against Minnesota last season. Do I think Jack Lausch is capable of throwing for 396 yards like Ben Bryant did in that fateful victory? Not at this stage of his career. But I think the youngster will continue his development on the road and throw for over 200 yards in back-to-back weeks. Unfortunately, it won’t be enough to keep Billy Edwards Jr. and overcome an excellent Terrapin passing offense.

Ben Adams: Maryland 27, Northwest 17

While there were several positives to Northwestern’s home loss to Indiana, Jack Lasuch and the offense were too inconsistent and the secondary’s tackling was extremely poor. Combine these shortcomings with a Maryland offense that has scored more than 20 points in every game this year behind phenomenal play from Billy Edwards Jr., and it will be extremely difficult for the ‘Cats to overcome the upset in College Park.

Sai Trivedi: Maryland 33, Northwest 24

For the Wildcats, a win in this game will be decided on the defensive side of the ball. Jack Lausch looked much more comfortable in the pocket against Indiana, and I trust the offense can find a rhythm, especially against a Maryland defense that has been vulnerable this season. Billy Edwards Jr.’s high-powered offense and Maryland, however, will pose a daunting task for Northwestern’s defense, especially considering the ‘Cats’ struggles with open-field tackles and constant coverage breakdowns in the secondary. Unless the defense improves significantly, it’s hard to imagine an upset.

Ethan Weinberg: Maryland 27, Northwest 20

Last season’s game against Maryland ended in a miraculous ‘Cats victory at Ryan Field, but it’s hard for me to see that magic being repeated this time. Northwestern’s defense was overwhelmed by a dominant Indiana offense last week, and while the Terps aren’t as productive, their offense still packs a significant punch. Billy Edwards Jr. has shown a lot of confidence as Maryland’s signal caller, and his RPO success and connection with Tai Felton could pose a challenge for NU’s defense. Importantly, this game should tell us a lot about Jack Lausch’s ability to play on the road, and whether his poor performance in Seattle was an outlier or the start of a worrying trend. While I think the ‘Cats can keep this game close, I think the Terps get the home win and further jeopardize Northwestern’s bowl hopes.

Wyatt Audler: Maryland 31, Northwest 24

The bottom line is that both teams have suffered similar losses to Indiana in recent weeks, but the Terrapins made things a little tougher for Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke by grabbing two interceptions during the game. Northwestern didn’t knock one down in their battle with the Hoosiers. For a Wildcat team that struggles with offensive consistency and productive quarterback play, Maryland’s secondary is terrifying. Plus, Maryland has a week more rest over Northwestern. This is certainly a boon for the Terrapins, as three of their starters (wide receivers Tai Felton and Kaden Prather and safety Dante Trader Jr.) left the game against Indiana with injuries. Coach Michael Locksley said Tuesday that two of the three had practiced but declined to provide more information about the players’ status on game day. The health of their wide receiver core and strong safety will certainly influence the outcome of this matchup. However, assuming at least two will play, and given Maryland’s strong secondary and home field advantage, I predict the Terrapins will get their first Big Ten win this season.

Miguel Muñoz: Maryland 30, Northwest 21

After a hard-fought effort against No. 23 Indiana at the lakefill, the Wildcats are still looking for their first Big Ten win. Next on the docket are the Terrapins, who are in a similar situation and looking for their first conference win of the year despite a trio of dominant non-conference wins. What will likely decide NU’s fate is how much they can limit the Billy Edwards-Tai Felton connection that has powered the Terps offense all season. The ‘Cats looked better last Saturday, but a Friday night showdown in College Park will give Maryland enough momentum to beat Northwestern.

Season Ranking:

5-0: Adam Beck, Natalie Wells, Ethan Weinberg

4-0: Miguel Munoz

4-1: Brendan Preisman, Ascher Levin

2-1: Harris Horowitz

3-2: Charlie Jacobs

1-0: Weldon geniuses