Michigan Wolverines vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Picks, Predictions, Odds

Dec. 7, 2021
Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Michigan Wolverines (5-3, 0-0 Big Ten) travel to meet Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-4, 0-1) at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb. on Tuesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN2.

Score Prediction

Michigan 76, Nebraska 67

Best Bets

Michigan -7.5 (-110)

Michigan Wolverines vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Predictions

The Wolverines are coming off perhaps their most impressive game of the season, a 72-58 victory over San Diego State at Crisler Center on Saturday. It was their first cover in four outings, and the lone cover in four home games this season.

Hunter Dickinson was impressive with 23 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and three steals while hitting 10-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-3 from behind the arc. He was one of three players in double digits, as Caleb Houstan chipped in with 17 points, five rebounds, two steals and four 3-pointer.

Nebraska was worked over in the conference opener, losing 68-55 in Bloomington against Indiana as 11.5-point underdogs as the UNDER connected. After a 5-2 SU starts, the Cornhuskers have dropped back-to-back games. The UNDER results slapped the brakes on a 3-0 OVER run, too.

Michigan Wolverines vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Odds

Odds Provided by DraftKings - Subject to Change

  • Michigan -7.5 (-110)
  • Nebraska +7.5 (-110)
  • Over 140.5 (-115)
  • Under 140.5 (-105)

More Odds | Futures Odds

Michigan Wolverines vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Resources

  • Matchup: Big 10
  • Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2021
  • Venue: Pinnacle Bank Arena
  • Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
  • TV-Time: ESPN2 - 7:00 p.m. ET

Michigan Wolverines Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 5-3
  • ATS: 3-5
  • O/U: 3-5

Michigan was absolutely manhandled by North Carolina last Wednesday in Chapel Hill during the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, falling 72-51 as 2.5-point favorites. The Wolverines are just 2-4 ATS across the past six games as a favorite.

If the game at UNC is any indication, the team’s first true road game of the season, Michigan might be in for a rough ride. The good news is that the offense rolled up 72 points, which was actually its best performance in four games dating back to a neutral-site win at UNLV. The offense is good for 69.3 PPG, just 238th in the nation, while going for just 32.9% from behind the 3-point line. Michigan has also struggled quite a bit at the charity stripe, hitting just 66.7% from the free-throw line.

Defensively, the Wolverines are just so-so, allowing 64.6 PPG. They’re holding the opposition to just 27.2% from behind the arc, however.

Michigan topped Nebraska by an 80-60 score as 7.5-point favorites in Lincoln last season on Christmas Day while the UNDER (150.5) just came through.

Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 5-4
  • ATS: 4-5
  • O/U: 5-4

Nebraska is looking to grab a win and avoid a potential nosedive. The Cornhuskers lost a heartbreaker in Raleigh, 104-100 in 4OT, covering a 6.5-point number. But it was a tough way to snap a four-game win streak. The Huskers looked tired in their game at Indiana on Saturday, shooting just 38% (23-of-61), including a dismal 23% (5-of-22) from behind the 3-point line.

In that IU game, only Verge showed up, going for 15 points, five rebounds and three assists. He was the only player to hit double figures in points. He also turned the ball over six times, which is something he’ll need to clean up. McGowens essentially took the night off, hitting just 3-of-14, including 1-of-5 from behind the line, ending up with eight points.

So far this season at home, Nebraska has posted a 5-2 SU/4-3 ATS mark in seven home dates, with losses to Western Illinois in the opener Nov. 9, and Creighton on Nov. 16. Since an 0-3 ATS start, Nebrasketball is a respectable 4-2 ATS in six games overall. The OVER is 3-1 in the previous four outings, too.


Michigan has alternated wins and losses in each of the past seven games overall. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Michigan Wolverines

  • Record: 5-3
  • VI Ranking: 35
  • PS/G: 69.3
  • PA/G: 64.6
  • ORtg: 35.8
  • DRtg: 29.9

Inside the Stats - Nebraska Cornhuskers

  • Record: 5-4
  • VI Ranking: 136
  • PS/G: 77.1
  • PA/G: 72.3
  • ORtg: 35.2
  • DRtg: 40.8

Key Players to Watch

  • MICH – Eli Brooks (14.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.5 BPG)
  • MICH – Hunter Dickinson (14.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.1 BPG)
  • NEB – Bryce McGowens – G (17.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.9 APG)
  • NEB – Alonzo Verge Jr. – G (15.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.4 SPG)

Michigan Wolverines vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Conclusion

The Wolverines have alternated straight-up wins and losses in each of the past seven games. Michigan has also failed to cover in consecutive outings so far this season, but I think that’s about to change. Something looked different about the Wolverines against San Diego State last time out, and I think they’re about to snap out of their mediocre ways. They handled a very good defensive team with relative ease, and they will use that confidence as a springboard into this game in Lincoln.

Nebraska enters on a 4-2 ATS run across the past six after opening the season 0-3 ATS. The Huskers managed a season-low 55 points at Indiana, and they just shot the ball poorly. Facing Michigan, a team picked by many in the preseason to win the conference, will not be the elixir to cure Nebraska’s ills.

Michigan Wolverines vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Trends

  • Michigan is just 3-5 ATS in eight games overall this season.
  • Nebraska is 4-2 ATS in the past six games overall.
  • Nebraska is 3-1 ATS in the past four home games.
  • The UNDER is 5-2 in the past seven games overall for Michigan.
  • The OVER is 5-2 in the past seven games overall for Nebraska.