The Nebraska Cornhuskers look for the season sweep when they battle the Ohio State Buckeyes in a key Big Ten battle on Thursday in Columbus, Ohio. The Cornhuskers (20-8, 10-7 Big Ten), who are 1-6 in conference road games, are looking to win their second straight after beating Indiana 85-70 on Feb. 21. The Buckeyes (16-12, 6-11 Big Ten), who have won two home games in a row, are just 3-7 in their last 10 games overall. The Cornhuskers have won three straight in the series, but the Buckeyes hold a 20-7 edge in the all-time series.
Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET at Value Center Arena. The Buckeyes are 3.5-point favorites in the latest Nebraska vs. Ohio State odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 144.5. Before making any Ohio State vs. Nebraska picks, you need to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 17 of the 2023-24 season on a 139-94 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $2,300 for $100 players. It also is off to a sizzling 25-14 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Nebraska vs. Ohio State and revealed its CBB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Ohio State vs. Nebraska:
- Nebraska vs. Ohio State spread: Ohio State -3.5
- Nebraska vs. Ohio State over/under: 144.5 points
- Nebraska vs. Ohio State money line: Nebraska +149, Ohio State -179
- NEB: The Cornhuskers have hit the money line in 18 of their last 28 games (+13.80 units)
- OSU: The Buckeyes have hit the money line in 8 of their last 12 games at home (+5.20 units)
- Nebraska vs. Ohio State picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Ohio State can cover
Sophomore center Felix Okpara has been effective in the post for much of the season. In 27 starts, he has reached double-figure scoring five times, and double-digit rebounding four times. He scored a season-high 14 points twice, in a win over Central Michigan in November and in a 79-77 loss at Iowa on Feb. 2. He had a season-high 15 rebounds in a 71-65 loss at Indiana on Jan. 6. For the year, he is averaging 6.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 23.4 minutes.
Sophomore guard Bruce Thornton is coming off an 11-point, four rebound and three-assist effort in the 60-57 win at Michigan State on Sunday. He has had seven games of 20 or more points and has 118 assists compared to just 32 turnovers. He scored a career-high 29 points in a 92-81 win over Alabama on Nov. 24, and had 25 at Minnesota on Feb. 22. In 28 starts, Thornton is averaging 16.2 points and 4.2 assists in 33.8 minutes. See which team to pick here.
Why Nebraska can cover
Senior guard Keisei Tominaga has been a spark plug for the Cornhuskers and leads the team in scoring at 14.0 points per game. He is connecting on 45.8% of his field goals, including 37% from 3-point range and 90.6% from the free-throw line. He has reached double-digit scoring in five of the past six games, including a 31-point performance in an 87-84 overtime loss at No. 14 Illinois on Feb. 4.
Junior forward Rienk Mast is in his first year with the Cornhuskers after spending the past three seasons at Bradley. In 26 games, all starts, Mast is averaging 12.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and three assists in 30.7 minutes. He has reached double-digit scoring in five of the past seven games, including a 10-point and six-rebound performance in Sunday's win over Minnesota. He has posted five double-doubles on the year, including a 34-point and 10-rebound effort in an 83-69 win over Ohio State on Jan. 23. See which team to pick here.
How to make Ohio State vs. Nebraska picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 146 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time. You can see the picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Nebraska vs. Ohio State, and which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets from a model that's 25-14 on top-rated college basketball picks this season, and find out.
