The Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-8 overall, 0-5 Big Ten) visit the Michigan State Spartans (8-7, 2-7) for a Saturday evening (6:30 p.m. ET) Big Ten contest at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. Below, we analyze the Nebraska-Michigan State college basketball odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Nebraska at Michigan State: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:40 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Nebraska +525 (bet $100 to win $525) | Michigan State -750 (bet $750 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Nebraska +11.5 (-110) | Michigan State -11.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 145.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Nebraska at Michigan State: Three things to know
- Both teams tote losing streaks into this game. Nebraska hasn’t won since Dec. 17; the Cornhuskers have lost five since. In a COVID-decimated schedule, the ‘Huskers have also had five games postponed. Nebraska hasn’t played since Jan. 10. Michigan State heads into Saturday’s home game having lost four in a row. MSU had three January postponements; the Spartans haven’t won since Jan. 5.
- These two teams met Jan. 2 in Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska played MSU tough, but the Spartans led the game for about nine minutes of play. And the ‘Huskers shot an uncharacteristic 49.1% to make the game as close as it was. UN has shot under 44% in 6 of 9 games since Dec. 1.
- Since its return to action after a 19-day COVID hiatus, Michigan State has lost three road games. MSU’s effective field-goal rate in away-neutral games is an anemic 42.4%. At home, the Spartans have logged a fine 55/1% figure.
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Nebraska at Michigan State: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Michigan State 80, Nebraska 70
Money line (ML)
A LAYOFF IS SUGGESTED. These two have underlying analytics just too far gone with the impact of COVID postponements. There are decent signals on both; peg them as crossing and canceling.
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Against the spread (ATS)
Nebraska is 4-7 ATS; Michigan State is 4-11. The favorite is 6-1 ATS in the last seven series meetings. If you want to swing that way, there is that. But 11-1/2 points in this situation is a lot. A PASS IS RECOMMENDED.
Over/Under (O/U)
The strength in this contest — but perhaps as a partial-unit play — is in the number. Both teams have shown some defensive liabilities; both can get to the line at a decent rate. MSU can get some quick put-back points; UN can counter with a strong turnover-transition game.
BACK THE OVER 145.5 (-110).
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