Point Spread: Hoosiers Open Big Ten Play as Slight Favorite Over Maryland

Indiana opens Big Ten play on Friday night, and the Hoosiers are a slight favorite over Maryland at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. It's the return of former Hoosier Jordan Geronimo, who transferred from Indiana to Maryland in the offseason. Here's the latest on the point spread, plus a great history vs, the number for both teams so far this season.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — When the Big Ten went to a 20-game conference schedule five years ago, it gave us bonus basketball in December. Everyone now plays two league games before the holidays, and for Indiana, that starts on Friday night.

Game 1 in Big Ten play is against the Maryland Terrapins on Friday at 7 p.m. ET at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The other game is Tuesday night at Michigan.

Indiana is a 3.5-point favorite over Maryland on Friday morning, according to the SISportsbook.com gambling website. The over/under is 136.5. That line would have likely been reversed in the preseason, but Maryland, who was ranked No. 22 in the Kenpom.com preseason rankings, has already lost three games — all away from home — and has really struggled offensively, scoring more than 70 points only twice all season.

The game also marks the return of Jordan Geronimo to Assembly Hall. He played three years at Indiana, and averaged 4.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game during his IU career. He transferred to Maryland in the offseason, and is averaging 7.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game this year. He has started five of their seven games, and averages 20.3 minutes per game. 

Maryland has failed to cover the point spread in their three games away from home. That would normally seem to be a big deal, but the Hoosiers have failed to cover in all three of their home games, narrow wins over Florida Gulf Coast, Army and Wright State.

Here's all the information on how to watch, with a great preview of the game from HoosiersNow.com reporter Jack Ankony as well. CLICK HERE

Here's what Indiana has done against the spread so far this season:

Indiana by the numbers

• Indiana overall record: 5-1
• Indiana overall vs. spread: 1-5
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• Indiana home record: 3-0
• Indiana home vs. spread: 0-3
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• Indiana road record: 0-0
• Indiana road vs spread: 0-0
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• Indiana neutral court record: 2-1
• Indiana neutral court vs. spread: 1-2
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• Indiana record as favorite: 5-0
• Indiana vs. spread as favorite: 1-4
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• Indiana record as underdog: 0-1
• Indiana vs. spread as underdog: 0-1
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• Indiana over total: 3
• Indiana under total: 3

For every game, we'll give you a complete rundown on what both teams have done against the spread. We'll have final scores, what they did versus the spread and what happened with the over/under totals.

Indiana results vs. spread this season

Here's what Indiana has done this season, straight up and against the spread:

• Nov. 7 — Beat Florida Gulf Coast 69-63 at home as an 11.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (132) went under the 142.5 over/under total.
• Nov. 12 — Beat Army 72-64 at home as a 25.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (138) went over the 134.5 total.
• Nov. 16 — Beat Wright State 89-80 at home as a 15.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (169) went far over the 146.5 total.
• Nov. 19 — Lost to No. 5 Connecticut 77-57 at Madison Square Garden in New York as a 12.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (134) went under the 146.5 total.
• Nov. 20 — Beat Louisville 74-66 at Madison Square Garden in New York as an 8.5-point favorite at tipoff (did not cover). The score (140) went under the 146.5 total.
• Nov. 26 — Beat Harvard 89-76 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as an 7.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (165) went far over the 140.5 total.

Maryland results vs. spread this season

Harvard is coached by Kevin Willard, who's in his second year in College Park. Maryland is 4-3 overall, with all four wins coming at home. They've lost two neutral site games and one true road game at Villanova.  

The two teams played twice last year, with Indiana losing at failing to cover at Maryland, but winning in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, and covering there as well. Maryland is just 2-5 vs.  the spread so far this season, and has failed to cover in all three of their games away from home.

Maryland opened the season ranked No. 22 in the Kenpom.com computer rankings, but now they're all the way up to 59 as of Friday morning.

Here's what Maryland has done this season, straight up and against the spread.

• Nov. 7 — Beat Mount St. Mary's  68-53 at home as a 20.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (121) went under the 130.5 total.
• Nov. 10 — Lost to Davidson 64-61 in Asheville, N.C. as an 11.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (125) went far over the 135.5 total.
• Nov. 12 — Lost to UAB 66-63 in Asheville, N.C. as a 5.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (129) went far over the 137.5 total.
• Nov. 17 — Lost at Villanova 57-40 as a 6.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (97) went far under the 133.5 total.
• Nov. 21 — Beat Maryland-Baltimore County 92-68 at home as a 19.5-point favorite (covered). The score (160) went far over the 142.5 total.
• Nov. 25 — Beat South Alabama 68-55 at home as a 14.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (123) went far under the 133.5 total.
• Nov. 28 — Beat Rider 103-76 at home as a 16.5-point favorite (covered). The score (179) went far over the 132.5 total.

Related stories on Indiana-Maryland

• HOW TO WATCH: Indiana opens the Big Ten season on Friday against Maryland at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. Here's how to watch, game time and TV information, the point spread and over/under, the coaching matchup, series history, stats, rankings and more. CLICK HERE
• INJURY UPDATE: Heading into Indiana's Big Ten opener against Maryland on Friday, coach Mike Woodson said Indiana is still evaluating Xavier Johnson, who left Sunday's game against Harvard with an ankle injury. Sophomore forward Malik Reneau is ready to play. CLICK HERE
• 3 THINGS TO WATCH: When Indiana begins Big Ten play on Friday against Maryland, keep an eye on the inside matchup between Kel'el Ware and Julian Reese, which team shoots better from beyond the arc, and the health of Indiana point guard Xavier Johnson. CLICK HERE
• MEET MARYLAND: Indiana hosts a 4-3 Maryland team on Friday night that has been strong defensively this season but remains in search of consistent offensive production beyond Jahmir Young and Julian Reese. CLICK HERE
• BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS: Indiana will participate in the 2024 Battle 4 Atlantis event, along with Arizona, Creighton, Davidson, Gonzaga, Louisville, Oklahoma and West Virginia. CLICK HERE