Maryland vs. UCLA Picks and Prediction for Saturday, October 18, 2025

By: Jake Allman Updated 10/17/2025, 09:22 PM ET

The Maryland Terrapins head west to face the UCLA Bruins on Saturday at 7:00 PM ET from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Both teams are looking to improve after below-average starts in Big Ten play, and the oddsmakers have Maryland favored slightly on the road. The Terrapins come in at 4-2 overall and 1-2 in conference action, while UCLA sits at 2-4 and 2-1 in league play. ESPN Analytics gives Maryland a 61.9% chance to win. Rivalry week? Bowl season? Our college football predictions keep you ahead.

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Maryland Preview

Maryland’s season has followed a familiar pattern: strong offensive execution early, then midseason inconsistency. Quarterback Malik Washington has kept the Terrapins competitive with 1,257 yards through the air, completing 110 of 183 passes with nine touchdowns and just two interceptions. His connection with receiver Octavian Smith Jr., who leads the team with 324 yards on 19 receptions, remains the offense’s primary spark. DeJuan Williams adds balance out of the backfield with 209 rushing yards and a touchdown, though the ground game has lacked explosiveness against stronger defenses. Maryland’s biggest challenge has been finishing drives; recent losses to Nebraska and Washington showed stalled red-zone production that flipped both games late. Linebacker Daniel Wingate, who leads the team with 49 tackles, anchors a group that has held its own but could use more consistent pressure up front.

UCLA Preview

UCLA turned heads with a two-game win streak after a rough start, including a 38-13 road win over Michigan State and a 42-37 thriller against Penn State. Freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava has flashed dual-threat potential, throwing for 954 yards and six touchdowns while adding 332 rushing yards and four more scores. His athleticism has helped mask protection issues, though the Bruins still struggle with sustained drives. Kwazi Gilmer has emerged as a reliable target with 304 receiving yards and two touchdowns, giving UCLA a vertical game to stretch the field. Linebacker JonJon Vaughns continues to lead the defense with 54 tackles, while edge rusher Anthony Jones has contributed 1.5 sacks as part of a front still finding its way. The Bruins’ defensive lapses early in the year have improved over the past two weeks, but the secondary remains vulnerable against talented passers like Washington.

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Maryland vs UCLA Pick

This matchup hinges on whether UCLA’s improving defense can slow Maryland’s precision passing game. The Terrapins have more stability under center, and the turnover margin should play a key role. However, UCLA’s momentum at home and Iamaleava’s mobility give the Bruins a solid shot at winning. Expect Maryland to control the tempo but UCLA to counter with big plays.

Prediction: Maryland 30, UCLA 27

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