Nebraska vs Cincinnati Odds, Picks & Predictions for CFB Week 1

• The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 6.5-point favorites over the Cincinnati Bearcats when each opens its season Thursday night
• The Cornhuskers are coming off a bowl-winning season
• Read below for Nebraska vs Cincinnati betting line, prediction and pick

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The Nebraska Cornhuskers appear to be on the upswing as they open their College Football season against the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Even on a neutral field, the college football odds have Nebraska as the clear favorite in this battle of Big Ten vs Big 12 schools.

Action gets underway Thursday at 9pm ET from GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, with ESPN carrying the broadcast.

See below for the latest odds, preview and my betting prediction for this one.

Nebraska vs Cincinnati Odds

The Bearcats are pegged as 6.5-point underdogs, as the program hasn’t had its turnaround campaign like Nebraska enjoyed a season ago. The ‘Huskers are a short -260 on the moneyline and the total sits at 51.5 points.

Odds as of August 28 at 3pm ET. Be sure to check out the best Caesars Sportsbook promo code before placing a bet on any Week 1 College Football matchup.

Nebraska Equipped to Make Noise in Big Ten

It’s Year 3 in the Matt Rhule era, and the framework has been laid out. Nebraska put together a solid, if not spectacular, 2024 season, going 7-6 and playing in a bowl game for the first time since 2016.

They also have a legit breakout star in QB Dylan Raiola, whose talent is strong enough alone to give the ‘Huskers a chance to be competitive on a weekly basis.

Raiola threw for more than 2,800 yards and 13 TD’s, but he’ll want to cut down on those 11 interceptions.

They’re hoping that transfer Dane Key unlocks the passing attack, as he’ll bolster a receiving unit that includes Nyziah Hunter and Jacori Barney Jr.

There’s no reason to believe that the offense can improve its 23.5 points per game average and move into the conference’s Top 10 in scoring.

Cincinnati Takes a Step Back in Rebuild

There’s nowhere to go but up for the Bearcats, who finished 5-7 last year, dropping five straight to close out the campaign.

Brendan Sorsby threw for almost the identical amount of yards as Raiola, while finishing with 18 TD passes and nine rushing scores, but he fizzled down the stretch, failing to throw for more than 200 yards four times in the final five.

The transfer portal has delivered some better playmakers, including receiver Evan Pryor and RB Tawee Walker, and that should at least bolster an offense that was Bottom-4 in scoring in the Big 12 at 25.2 points per game.

I’m also not quite sure they’ve done enough to improve a run defense that was gashed for 162.7 yards per game a season ago.

Nebraska vs Cincinnati Prediction

• Pick: Nebraska -6.5 (-115 at Caesars)

Nebraska is at least a frisky wager in the Big Ten Conference title odds at +3500, but there’s plenty of heft above them, and major strides would have to be made for that to happen.

However, Rhule has produced double-digit winning seasons in both previous stops at Temple and Baylor, and the Cornhuskers are at least on schedule.

This is a good start for them, as Cincinnati doesn’t provide the offensive pop to go toe-to-toe with them, or a defense that can stifle Raiola.