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The Maryland Terrapins and the Connecticut Huskies square off in an intriguing 2021 NCAA Tournament matchup Saturday on CBS. Maryland enters as the No. 10 seed in the East Region, with UConn as the No. 7 seed. James Bouknight leads the Huskies, and UConn boasts a 15-7 overall record in 2020-21. Maryland is just 16-13 overall, but faced a very difficult schedule in the grueling Big Ten. 

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET at Mackey Arena. The latest Maryland vs. UConn odds from William Hill Sportsbook list the Huskies as 3.5-point favorites. The over-under for total points expected is set at 129.5. Before finalizing any UConn vs. Maryland picks, check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past four-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of over $2,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. It has also returned almost $500 on all top-rated college basketball picks this season. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Connecticut vs. Maryland in the NCAA Tournament 2021. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Maryland vs. Connecticut:

  • Maryland vs. UConn spread: UConn -3.5
  • Maryland vs. UConn over-under: 129.5 points
  • Maryland vs. UConn money line: UConn -155, Maryland +135
  • MD: The Terrapins are 5-5 against the spread in the last 10 games
  • UConn: The Huskies are 7-3 against the spread in the last 10 games

Why Maryland can cover 

Maryland is a very strong defensive team, with a favorable matchup on that side of the floor. While UConn does have Bouknight, the Huskies are below-average on both 2-point shooting (49.0 percent) and 3-point shooting (33.6 percent) for the season, and UConn is also below-average in generating free throw attempts. Maryland holds opponents to just 46.4 percent on 2-point shots, and the Terrapins have a block rate of 10.3 percent, up from the national average of 8.8 percent. Maryland is also excellent on the defensive glass (75.2 percent defensive rebound rate), and the Terrapins prevent free throw attempts at an elite level. 

On the opposite side of the floor, Maryland boasts an effective field goal shooting mark of 52.6 percent, well above the national baseline, and it turns the ball over on only 16.8 percent of possessions. UConn is also one of the worst defensive rebounding teams in the country, providing the opportunity for second-chance points. 

Why UConn can cover

The Huskies have the best player on the floor in Bouknight, a sophomore guard. Bouknight is a potential lottery pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and he is averaging 19.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Beyond his individual statistics, Bouknight also has a massive impact on UConn's success, and the team was 11-3 when he played this season and just 4-4 when Bouknight was absent due to injury. In addition to the inherent advantage of star power, UConn can benefit from a few weaknesses that Maryland has shown. 

The Terrapins are one of the worst offensive rebounding teams in the country, pulling down 20.9 percent of their own missed shots, and UConn's ability to be close possessions will be crucial. On the other side, Maryland very rarely creates turnovers, ranking 289th in the country in forcing a giveaway on only 16.9 percent of defensive possessions. That includes a steal rate (7.7 percent) that also lands outside of the top-275 nationally, and UConn can play a free-flowing offense as a result.

How to make Maryland vs. UConn picks

The model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 136 points. It also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Maryland vs. UConn? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the computer model that has crushed its college basketball picks.