NCAA Basketball Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Indiana Hoosiers: Odds, Tips and Predictions 02/21/24

These are two teams headed in seemingly opposite directions as the Nebraska Cornhuskers are closing in on their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2014. The Indiana Hoosiers are in disarray now as their tournament hopes are gone. Nebraska needs this road win to prove they can win a conference game on the road.

Indiana, earlier in the year, seemed to have a huge home-court advantage, but that has dissipated with booing fans that are not helping the Hoosier’s situation. Indiana’s most significant issue will be guarding the Cornhuskers backcourt that trashed them in Lincoln. Nebraska earlier this season. The Hoosiers do have an advantage in the paint with Ware, who dominated the Cornhuskers in these teams’ earlier meetings.

Odds Nebraska vs Indiana

• Point Spread: Nebraska -1.5
• Moneyline Nebraska -111
• Moneyline Indiana -108
• Over/Under 147.5

These odds were updated at 5 am EST on 2/21/24; the odds came from Draft Kings.

This spread looks to be an excellent line for Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are the better team, but they have struggled on the road. This matchup is a Pick’em game, but the Huskers are the better team.

Our Best Pick: Bet Nebraska to Cover

The Cornhuskers have struggled on the road, and the Hoosiers are much better at home.

Tominaga stood out in Nebraska’s first matchup against Indiana, scoring 28 points while shooting an efficient 9-of-15 from the field. Brice Williams, Jamarques Lawrence, and C.J. Wilcher also contributed double-digit individual scoring efforts as Nebraska’s backcourt easily outshone Indiana.

Rienk Mast struggled against Indiana’s Kel’el Ware inside, who scored 20 points by making 9 of 11 attempts from within the painted area. Mast also struggled offensively when guarded by Ware, scoring only 9 points on 3 of 10 shooting attempts.

Nebraska was most concerned by Ware’s physical edge over Mast on the glass. Ware amassed 10 rebounds — four on the offensive glass — to garner a double-double, while Mast managed only three total boards.

The difference here is the backcourt Gabe Cupps, Trey Galloway, and C.J. Gunn have shown that they are not quick enough to defend the perimeter. If Malik Reneau was playing well, I would give the Hoosiers my bet, the problem is he has spent most of the last few weeks pouting and whining about damn near everything, and he is having trouble with getting into foul trouble.

DraftKings

4.5/5

Tip: Nebraska to Cover

• Tominaga to Dominate
• Ware to have a Big Night
• Huskers will give greater effort

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Nebraska vs Indiana Moneyline

You get value betting either team on the money line in a game like this. As of this writing, the game is a toss-up, so if you know who you think will win, you can bet them straight up and get a good payoff.

DraftKings

4.5/5

Tip: Nebraska to cover

• Huskers better back court
• Good Moneyline pointspread value
• Huskers in a must-win

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Nebraska vs Indiana Over/Under Analysis

I would bet that over here, neither team is very good defensively, and the Huskers will light it up from outside, and the Hoosiers should have their way in the paint.

DraftKings

4.5/5

Tip: Bet the over 147.5

• Nebraska efficient on Offense
• Hoosiers to dominate the paint
• Huskers dominate the perimeter

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Nebraska vs Indiana Spread Analysis

If this game were being played at Nebraska, the Huskers would be a double-digit favorite. The Husker’s issues on the road have been concerning, and that is why this spread is so small. It is hard to trust either team, the Hoosiers at one point looked like they were going to be a tough team to beat at Assembley hall but that advantage seems gone with bad losses to Northwestern, penn State, and Purdue at home.

DraftKings

4.5/5

Tip: Nebraska to Cover

• Husker guards dominate
• Husker defense is average
• Hoosiers better at home

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Nebraska vs Indiana Head-to-Head

The Cornhuskers dominated the first matchup between these two teams as the Badgers pulled away for an 86-70 win. Ware had a big night for the Hoosiers but Nebraska dominated the Hoosiers at every other position on the court. Nebraska will be looking for their first two-game season sweep of Indiana for the first time since 2014, which was the last time the Huskers danced in March.

Injuries and Suspensions

Both teams have a couple of questionable players coming into this game, and as of 7 AM on game day, they look to be game-time decisions.

Nebraska Cornhuskers Injury Report

• M. Diop(Questionable)

Indiana Hoosiers Injury Report

• X. Johnson(Questionable)

Conclusion

The best bet in this one is to take the better team even though they are on the road. Nebraska plays harder than Indiana, they are better coached and if Indiana plays at the same pace and style they have been playing the Cornhuskers should get the win. Nebraska 79  Indiana 73