PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Sunday slate might look light, but the stakes are heavy. In the Big Ten, the Maryland Terrapins march into Jersey Mike’s Arena looking to settle a score with Rutgers, while down south, the UAB Blazers aim to continue their stranglehold over Tulane. We’ve analyzed the trends, crunched the rest-day numbers, and found the value. Here is your sharpest action for February 15, 2026.
Maryland Terrapins +2.5 at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Don’t let the noise at Jersey Mike’s fool you—the value is on the visitors. The Terps enter Piscataway as 2.5-point underdogs, a line that disrespects their recent form in this rivalry. Maryland has cracked the code against Steve Pikiell’s squad, boasting a 5-3 record both straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) in their last eight meetings.
Rutgers, conversely, is reeling. The Scarlet Knights have dropped eight of their last ten games, looking disjointed on offense and a step slow on defense. The calendar isn’t helping them either; Rutgers is a dismal 2-5 ATS this season when playing on four or more days of rest. They rust rather than recover. Maryland’s defense, anchored by their physical interior presence, should turn this into a muddy, low-scoring grind—exactly the kind of game the Terps are built to steal.
- The Pick: Maryland +2.5
- Prediction: Maryland 71, Rutgers 67
“We know it’s loud in there. We know they bring the energy. But we thrive on silencing that noise. It’s about execution, not atmosphere.”
— Kevin Willard, Maryland Head Coach
UAB Blazers -6.5 at Tulane Green Wave
Bartow Arena South? It might as well be. The UAB Blazers have turned matchups with Tulane into a formality, winning and covering in eight of their last ten meetings. Andy Kennedy’s squad brings a physicality that the Green Wave simply cannot match, especially on the glass.
Tulane ranks a catastrophic 339th in defensive rebounding percentage. That is blood in the water for a UAB team that feasts on second-chance points. The Blazers are also covering machines on standard rest, holding a 10-7 ATS record when playing on two or three days of rest. Expect UAB to bludgeon Tulane in the paint and pull away late for a comfortable cover.
- The Pick: UAB -6.5
- Prediction: UAB 82, Tulane 73
Playoff Implications
For Maryland, a road win at Rutgers is crucial for their NCAA Tournament résumé. It moves them closer to the bubble safety zone and solidifies their standing in the chaotic middle tier of the Big Ten. A loss for Rutgers could be the nail in the coffin for their postseason hopes. Meanwhile, UAB needs to handle business to keep pace at the top of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). A win here keeps them in the hunt for the regular-season title and the favorable seeding that comes with it in the conference tournament next month.
