Maryland Terrapins vs Usc Trojans Picks and Predictions February 20th 2025

Southern California Faces Road Challenge Against No. 20 Maryland

Southern California heads to College Park, Md., on Thursday to visit No. 20 Maryland, one of the hottest offensive teams in the nation.

Maryland’s Offensive Dominance

The Maryland Terrapins (20-6, 10-5 Big Ten) have won three straight and seven of their last eight, most recently a 101-75 rout of visiting Iowa on Sunday. The blowout, which included a 54-24 second-half scoring advantage, reflected the balance that has made Maryland one of the nation’s most effective offensive teams all season.

Want better results this season? Get expert NCAAB picks now!

Five Terps scored at least 16 points against the Hawkeyes, led by Ja’Kobi Gillespie’s 26 on 11-of-14 shooting. At 14.7 points per game, Gillespie is one of five Maryland players averaging at least 12 points per game.

Rodney Rice (13.4 ppg) recorded 18 against Iowa and credited the Terps’ home-court advantage for their offensive success.

“It feels good. At times during the game, we feed off the crowd’s energy. We like when the crowd is loud,” Rice said.

Big man Derik Queen leads Maryland in scoring with 16 points per game, while also grabbing 8.8 rebounds. His frontcourt mate, Julian Reese, averages 13.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per contest.

Maryland’s rebounding prowess, balanced scoring, and formidable play at home—where they are 15-1—make Thursday’s matchup a difficult one for USC (14-11, 6-8 Big Ten).

USC Looking for a Bounce-Back Performance

The Trojans come into the game having lost three of their last four, including a late-game collapse on Saturday against Minnesota. USC surrendered an 8-0 run to close the game, squandering a lead they held for roughly 36 of 40 minutes.

Turnovers and second-chance points were costly in the loss, as USC gave up a 15-2 disparity in points off turnovers and a 12-5 gap in second-chance points—an issue against Maryland’s aggressive rebounding.

“It’s devastating,” said USC coach Eric Musselman. “But you continue to get better. Even when we lose, this team does play hard.”

Key Players to Watch

Chibuzo Agbo and Wesley Yates III each made three 3-pointers against Minnesota, finishing with 18 points apiece. Desmond Claude added 12 points but struggled with six turnovers.

Claude has turned the ball over 14 times in his last two games following a two-game absence due to a bone bruise. He leads USC in both points (16 per game) and assists (4.4).

USC’s visit to Maryland is its first road game since a Feb. 4 and 7 swing at Northwestern and Purdue, where they went 0-2. However, the Trojans have shown they can compete on the road, including an 82-72 win at then-No. 13 Illinois on Jan. 11, where Claude exploded for 31 points.

Freshman guard Wesley Yates III is also a potential X-factor, having scored a season-high 30 points in a 90-72 loss at then-No. 7 Purdue on Feb. 7.

What’s at Stake?

With Maryland surging and USC looking for consistency, this game presents a crucial test for both programs. The Terps aim to extend their dominant home record, while the Trojans seek a signature win to bolster their season.