Wisconsin vs Nebraska Picks and Odds
- #21 Wisconsin (14-6, 8-5 Big Ten) battles Nebraska (4-10, 0-7 Big Ten) on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 9:30pm ET
- The Badgers were embarrassed in their most recent game, but the Cornhuskers have been embarrassed throughout conference play
- The odds for the game, as well as matchup analysis and a pick, can be found in the article below
Wisconsin probably need this. After a crushing loss to #6 Illinois, the Badgers get to rebound against the Big Ten’s basemen dweller, Nebraska, on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 9:30pm ET.
If you’re looking for analysis on how Nebraska can pull the upset … you won’t find it here. The Badgers are rightfully a sizable favorite. But can they cover the spread? That’s another question entirely.
#21 Wisconsin vs. Nebraska Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | -11.5 (-105) | -690 | Over 137.5 (-110) |
| Nebraska | +11.5 (-115) | +490 | Under 137.5 (-110) |
Odds taken Feb. 10th at FanDuel.
How They’ve Fared Recently
Wisconsin has alternated wins and double-digit losses in its past six games, culminating with Saturday’s 75-60 loss to Illinois. It’s not logical to say the Badgers are “due” for a win, but it is stacking up that way.
They like to play at a slow, suffocating pace (324th adjusted tempo in NCAA Division I), taking their time to construct the perfect offensive possession. As a result, their 24th in NCAA D-I in adjusted offensive efficiency. And their experience (average of 2.38 years per player, 19th in D-I) suggests they’ll bounce back from a tough loss without issue.
Jonathan Davis entered Tuesday's game with 4 made career 3-pointers
He made 4 that night alone!
🔥 Career high 17 points
🔥 6-7 FG, 4-4 3FG
🔥 4 rebounds
🔥 3 steals#OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/VGeZrDXyjI— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) February 4, 2021
And honestly, Wisconsin’s defense is more impressive than its offense (ninth in NCAA D-I in adjusted efficiency). We could be in for a low scoring affair on Wednesday, when you factor in Wisconsin’s strong defense and Nebraska’s hapless offense.
The Cornhuskers haven’t beaten anyone ranked inside KenPom’s top 150. Seven of their 10 losses — including five of their conference losses — have come by at least 10 points. It hasn’t been pretty, and that’s largely because the offense has struggled to score (308th in NCAA D-I in effective field goal percentage).
Nebraska’s best player, Teddy Allen (17.2 points, 4.9 rebounds per game) was benched on Feb. 8 for disciplinary reasons, which coach Fred Hoiberg said will be “re-evaluated” ahead of Wednesday’s game.
Teddy Allen felt that when it left his hand. 🔥
He has 21 at halftime for @HuskerHoops: pic.twitter.com/xL9XaQXWfw
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 25, 2020
We can’t say for sure, but this feels like a one-game situation that should be resolved now. Still, it’s never a great situation when the coach and star player are at odds with each other.
ATS Analysis
Wisconsin is 9-10-1 against the spread, including 3-4 ATS on the road. The Badgers have dropped three of their past five, all by sizable margins (at least 11 points). They are 2-4-1 ATS as double-digit favorites.
Defense ➡️ Offense
Jonathan Davis brought it on both ends of the court last night!
• career high 17 points
• 6-7 FG, 4-4 3FG
• 4 rebounds
• 3 steals@AlliantEnergy Power Through Moment pic.twitter.com/bh54nWQaKk— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) February 3, 2021
Nebraska is 5-8 ATS overall and 3-5 ATS at home. They’ve dropped four of their past six, and they’re 2-3 this season as double-digit underdogs.
Head-to-Head Matchup
In the past three seasons (including this one), Wisconsin has won all five meetings in straight up fashion against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers have come away with three ATS wins in that span, however, including this season’s narrow win as 16-point underdogs.
On Dec. 22, Wisconsin failed to cover by two points in a 67-53 win. The Badgers held the Cornhuskers to 33.3 percent shooting and, amazingly, won handily despite missing 17 of their first 18 shots.
This rematch has the makings of another blowout, with Wisconsin in need of a punching bag to beat up on — and Nebraska a prime candidate to fill that role.
Pick: Wisconsin -11.5 (-105)
Jordan Horrobin is a sports journalist whose MLB, NHL, NFL and NCAA work has appeared in outlets such as The Athletic, MLB.com, the Detroit Free Press and more. He is currently based in Toronto, also working as a contributor for Forbes.com and a freelance editor for Sportsnet.
