- Nebraska visits Ohio State on Thursday looking to build on a four-game win streak
- The Huskers are only 2-7 in true road games this season while the Buckeyes are 11-4 at home
- See the Nebraska vs Ohio State odds, player props, and picks for Thursday’s game at Value City Arena
On track to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade, the Nebraska Cornhuskers (20-8, 10-7 Big Ten, 2-7 away, 18-10 ATS) travel to Columbus, Ohio, for a date with the Ohio State Buckeyes (16-12, 6-11 Big Ten, 11-4 home, 11-16-1 ATS) on Thursday, Feb. 29, at 6:30 pm ET.
While the Huskers sit well above the Buckeyes in the Big Ten standings and rate significantly higher in efficiency, Ohio State is a 3.5-point home court favorite.
Nebraska vs Ohio State Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Cornhuskers | +3.5 (-120) | +128 | Over 145.5 (-110) |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | -3.5 (-102) | -154 | Under 145.5 (-110) |
Thursday’s college basketball odds also list Ohio State as a -154 moneyline favorite. Nebraska comes back at +128 to win straight-up. The game total is 145.5. Ohio State is 15-13 over/under this season while Nebraska has been one of the best over bets in the country at 17-10-1.
Odds as of Feb. 29 at FanDuel. Read up on the FanDuel app in North Carolina as it gets ready to launch on March 11, 2024.
Nebraska has worked its way into the top-40 favorites in the 2024 March Madness odds, but at +14500, oddsmakers still aren’t giving the idea of a Husker national championship much credence.
Likely to miss the NCAA Tournament barring a lengthy win streak that ends in the Big Ten title game, the Buckeyes are +26571 longshots, on average, to win their first national championship since 1960.
Cornhuskers Win Four Straight (Over Lesser Competition)
While no coach is going to complain about a four-game win streak in the stacked Big Ten – especially when all four wins came by at least 15 points – Nebraska has had a favorable schedule over the past two weeks. Their four-game win streak includes victories over Michigan (79-59 home), Penn State (68-49 home), Indiana (85-70 away), and Minnesota (73-55 home). The first three are rated between 92nd and 109th at KenPom (three of the four lowest in the conference), while Minnesota is 62nd.
The win at Indiana was just Nebraska’s second true-road victory of the season. The other came Kansas State on Dec. 17 (62-46). The Huskers have also suffered to heartbreaking OT losses on the road (87-82 at Rutgers and 87-84 at Illinois).
Fred Hoiberg has one of the most balanced attacks in the nation this season. Four players are averaging between 12.1 and 14 points per game, led by senior guard Keisei Tominaga. Bradley transfer Rienk Mast (12.9 PPG, 7.8 APG, 3.0 APG) has been one of the best additions to any team from the transfer portal, while Charlotte transfer Brice Williams (12.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.4 APG) would also feature highly on that list.
Ohio State Struggling, But Still Solid at Home
During a down year for the Buckeyes, Chris Holtmann’s group has still managed to piece together an 11-4 record at Value City Arena, including two straight wins over Maryland (79-75) and then-#2 Purdue (73-69). The win over the Boilermakers was undoubtedly Ohio State’s best performance of the season. Heading into the matchup, the Buckeyes were just 2-7 against teams rated in KenPom’s top 60. Coupled with a 60-57 win at Michigan State last time out, they are now 4-7 against top-60 teams.
Saturday’s win at Michigan State as 10-point road underdogs was all the more impressive in light of the fact that Jamison Battle (14.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 44.0 3P%) was out with an ankle injury. His status for tonight’s game hasn’t been made official, but given that he warmed up against MSU, it’s likely he’ll be ready.
Thanks to a run of eight losses in nine games from Jan. 6 to Feb. 6, the Buckeyes are well behind the eight ball when it comes to an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. They don’t feature in any projected brackets at the moment, nor are they one of the bubble teams.
NEB vs OSU Player Props
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brice Williams (NEB) | 12.5 (Ov -110 | Un -130) | 5.5 (Ov -110 | Un -130) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov +160 | Un -210) |
| Josiah Allick (NEB) | 6.5 (Ov -140 | Un -100) | 4.5 (Ov -140 | Un -100) | OFF | OFF |
| Juwan Gary (NEB) | 11.5 (Ov -120 | Un -120) | 5.5 (Ov -135 | Un -105) | OFF | 0.5 (Ov -185 | Un +140) |
| Kisei Tominaga (NEB) | 14.5 (Ov -125 | Un -115) | 2.5 (Ov +150 | Un -190) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -180 | Un +140) |
| Rienk Mast (NEB) | 12.5 (Ov -115 | Un -125) | 6.5 (Ov -120 | Un -120) | 2.5 (Ov +145 | Un -185) | 1.5 (Ov +180 | Un -240) |
College basketball player props from DraftKings on Feb. 29. Read the latest on DraftKings North Carolina.
With some personnel questions lingering on the Ohio State side, only Cornhuskers are currently available in the Nebraska vs Ohio State player props.
Nebraska vs Ohio State Prediction
Nebraska’s ugly 2-7 road record is hard to ignore. This is a very different team away from home, and Ohio State is playing arguably its best basketball of the season at the moment. But 3.5 points is a significant number. The Huskers were able to take Illinois (#13 at KenPom) to OT on the road in early February, and I do expect Hoiberg’s group to at least keep things close with the Buckeyes, if not extend their win streak to five.
NEB vs OSU pick: Nebraska +3.5 (-110)
Sascha Paruk’s 2023-24 NCAAM betting record:
- ATS: 16-15 (-0.48 units)
- Moneyline: 2-7 (-6.48 units)
- Over/Under: 0-1 (-1.00 units)
- Player props: 2-2 (+0.78 units)
All wagers one unit unless expressly stated otherwise.
As the college basketball season heats up, one of the most anticipated matchups on February 29th is between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Both teams have had their fair share of ups and downs this season, making this game an intriguing one to watch.
When it comes to player props, odds, and picks for this game, there are a few key players to keep an eye on. For Nebraska, guard Cam Mack has been a standout player this season, averaging 12.2 points, 6.4 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. Mack is a dynamic playmaker who can score from anywhere on the court and create opportunities for his teammates.
On the other side, Ohio State boasts a talented roster led by forward Kaleb Wesson. Wesson is a dominant force in the paint, averaging 14.0 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. His size and strength make him a tough matchup for any opponent, and he will be a key player to watch in this game.
In terms of odds, Ohio State comes into this game as the favorite, with most sportsbooks giving them a slight edge over Nebraska. The Buckeyes have been playing well as of late and have a strong home-court advantage, which could give them the upper hand in this matchup.
As for picks, it’s always tough to predict the outcome of a college basketball game, especially between two evenly matched teams like Nebraska and Ohio State. However, based on recent performances and overall talent, I would give the slight edge to Ohio State in this game. Their depth and experience should help them pull out a close victory over Nebraska.
Overall, the Nebraska vs Ohio State game on February 29th promises to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams. Keep an eye on key players like Cam Mack and Kaleb Wesson, and be sure to check out the latest odds and picks before placing any bets on this game.
