The Maryland Terrapins (1-2) and the 21^st-ranked Villanova Wildcats (2-1) square off on Friday, November 17 at 8:30 PM ET as part of the Gavitt Tipoff Games. The Wildcats are favored with a point spread of -5.5 (-115).

The Terrapins have recorded two straight losses coming into this game. Their previous defeat was at the hands of the UAB Blazers at 66-63. The Terrapins had a 30-24 lead at the half but poor shooting from the field and 15 turnovers overall likely gave the Blazers just enough room to come back.

They are near the lower end of the Big Ten conference but have a good chance to turn things around against a respectable opponent. So far, their offense, as well as their defense, has not shown that they can handle the other team’s offense.

The Terrapins are averaging 64.0 points per game while shooting 40.5 percent on the floor. Their ability to move the basketball is somewhat lacking at 9.7 assists a game.

Their defense allows 61.0 points per game, which is not much breathing room. They obtain 36.7 rebounds 7.3 steals, and 4.7 blocks per contest to make a moderate amount of effort on defense.

The Wildcats recently suffered the first loss of the season, which was a 76-73 outing against the Pennsylvania Quakers. The Wildcats did a great job at limiting their turnovers at just seven, but their shooting from their floor kept them from winning. They shot 34.9 percent from the field, whereas the Quakers secured 51.1 percent of their shots.

They are doing well to start in the Big East, but must capitalize on close games to stay ahead in the conference. This is another key test to see if they can overcome a loss and bounce back.

The Wildcats put up 81.7 points per game while netting 45.3 percent of their shots. They contribute 14.0 assists each game, which shows they make an effort to move the ball around to find scoring opportunities.

They allow 65.3 points per game, which is right around where the Terrapins are averaging overall. The Wildcats also grab 40.0 rebounds, land 6.0 steals, and give out 2.3 blocks.

MyBookie offers the latest odds for this game, which shows that the Villanova Wildcats are slight favorites to win. According to market analysis, the Wildcats have a 70.6 percent chance to win.

The Wildcats have a great shot to land a win and bounce back. Look for them to cover the spread and get back on track.