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One of Rutgers' biggest strengths is its ability to score in a hurry. Giving up points in bunches is one of the reasons Maryland is suddenly struggling.

After a bye week, the 10th-ranked Scarlet Knights look to continue their dominance on offense and extend a 10-game home winning streak when they face the Terrapins on Saturday.

Rutgers (3-0) set a Big East record with 42 points in the second quarter of a 59-0 win over Norfolk State on Sept. 15. The six-touchdown outburst produced 277 yards in just 11 plays and 91 seconds.

"This just goes to show the explosiveness of this offense," said Scarlet Knights wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, who has 20 receptions for 500 yards and three touchdowns. "We have some great players and once we get it going the sky is the limit."

All six of those second-quarter TDs came on drives of four plays or fewer, and Rutgers has had 12 such possessions this season that resulted in touchdowns. Ten of its touchdowns have come on plays of 20 yards or more.

The Scarlet Knights have scored 30 points or more in six straight games. It's the longest such streak in team history.

Rutgers' run of 10 consecutive home wins, dating to a 45-31 loss to South Florida on Nov. 5, 2005, is the program's longest since winning 24 in a row between the 1974 and 1978 seasons.

Maryland (2-2), meanwhile, has lost two straight after winning its first two, giving up 31 points in each loss. Last Saturday, the Terrapins had a 24-3 lead late in the third quarter before losing 31-24 in overtime.

In its previous game, Maryland was outscored 24-0 from the middle of the second quarter to the start of the fourth by then-No. 4 West Virginia as the Terrapins lost 31-14 on Sept. 14.

While Maryland quarterback Jordan Steffy was sacked 11 times in those two games, Rutgers signal-caller Mike Teel hasn't been sacked all season. Teel was sacked just eight times last season - the fewest in the nation.

Teel threw for three touchdowns and Ray Rice ran for three during the Scarlet Knights' second-quarter scoring spree against Norfolk State, and the team has since moved up three spots in the AP poll.

Saturday's contest, however, will be Rutgers' first major-conference test of the season. While the Scarlet Knights have yet to play one of their Big East rivals, the Terrapins are coming off their first ACC game.

"We still have a long way to go," Teel said. "It's nice to be 3-0, but we still want to continue to improve and keep on working. If we just continue to work hard and work on the little things that will be good. This team is confident, but we know we still have a lot of work left to do."

Teel isn't the only player to benefit from Rutgers' strong offensive line play. Rice rushed for 72 yards on 12 carries against Norfolk State before sitting out the second half, and now has 12 rushing touchdowns on the season.

The Heisman Trophy candidate will be facing a Maryland team that has allowed an average of 285.5 yards on the ground over its last two games, surrendering six rushing TDs during that span.

Rice, averaging 5.8 yards per carry, could get even more of the rushing load with backup running back Kordell Young out for the season after injuring his left knee against Norfolk State.

Young also was one of the Scarlet Knights' top kick returners, averaging a team-high 32.0 yards on three returns.

With Steffy struggling, Maryland has had to rely on its running game.

Keon Lattimore has been the Terrapins' biggest threat on offense, rushing for 433 yards and seven touchdowns. He is second on the team with 12 receptions for 54 yards, and has rushed for 613 yards in his last six games dating back to last season.

Steffy, meanwhile, has thrown one touchdown pass while being intercepted four times.

"I think I always can play better," Steffy said. "There's a lot of work to be done."

This is the first meeting between Rutgers and Maryland since Oct. 10, 1942, when the Terrapins won 27-13 at home. Maryland leads the all-time series 5-3.