The Nebraska Cornhuskers take on the Murray State Racers in Honolulu, HI, as part of the Diamond Head Classic. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Nebraska is favored by 9.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -490. The total is set at 145.5 points.
Here are my Nebraska vs. Murray State predictions and college basketball picks for December 22, 2024.
Nebraska vs Murray State Prediction
My Pick: Nebraska -8 (Play to -10)
My Nebraska vs Murray State best bet is on the Cornhuskers spread, with the best odds currently available at Caesars. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Nebraska vs Murray State Odds
| Nebraska Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -110 | 145.5 -110 / -110 | -490 |
| Murray State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -110 | 145.5 -110 / -110 | +365 |
- Nebraska vs Murray State spread: Nebraska -9.5
- Nebraska vs Murray State over/under: 145.5 points
- Nebraska vs Murray State moneyline: Nebraska -490, Murray State +365
- Nebraska vs Murray State best bet: Nebraska -8 (Play to -10)
Spread
I like Nebraska here up to 10.
Moneyline
I have no play on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I see no value on the total.
My Pick: Nebraska -8 (Play to -10)
Nebraska vs Murray State College Basketball Betting Preview
Nebraska Basketball
Nebraska is the only high-major team playing in the Diamond Head Classic. It's also the favorite to win the tournament at +110, so Fred Hoiberg's squad has a pretty clear target on its back.
Nebraska's engine is Brice Williams, who went from a key cog on a tournament team to the star of a bubble team. The 6-foot-7 wing is a dynamic shot creator who averages 18 points per game on an efficient 49% shooting overall and 40% from 3.
Moreover, Nebraska can go to a number of interior options to expose Murray State's interior. The starter is more of a pick-and-roll, lob-threat option in 7-foot-1 Braxton Meah, but Coach Hoiberg can pivot to better scorers like Andrew Morgan or Berke Buyuktuncel.
I'm expecting Morgan to get a large share of touches here. He is a magnet for the ball in his sparse minutes, posting a 25.6 usage rate, which sits only behind Williams on the team.
I like this Nebraska squad quite a bit, as the defense is the real reason to buy long-term stock in the Huskers. They rank 36th in defensive efficiency and thrive on forcing turnovers to get running in transition (their opponents give the ball away 21% of the time).
The mixture of the Huskers' length and defensive activity is perfect to force teams into turnovers.
Shooting has plagued Nebraska's offense, though. It shoots just 31% from 3 and doesn't have many shooting options outside of Williams and Connor Essegian, who has morphed into a successful reclamation project for Hoiberg.
It would be good for the Huskers if Juwan Gary can parlay his 2-of-4 shooting performance against Indiana into more consistency. He is shooting only 29% from 3, but he attempts over three shots per contest.
Murray State Basketball
The Racers hadn't played well in their first two years in the Missouri Valley, winning 17 games and 12 games, respectively.
If Murray State can beat Nebraska, it would further prove its legitimacy in the Missouri Valley race.
However, Murray State lost consecutive games on the road to Western Kentucky and Indiana State. That drops its record to 6-4 heading into the Diamond Head Classic.
Murray State will hope its guard play can keep it within striking distance. The star of the team is veteran JaCobi Wood, who leads the Racers with 15 points and 5.4 assists per game. He will get assistance from 3-and-D wing Terence Harcum and double-digit scorer Kylen Milton.
I have caught onto a concerning trend in games Murray State loses — other teams just abuse the Racers' interior.
Utah Valley got 19 points from Carter Welling, Western Kentucky got 17 from Babacar Faye and Indiana State secured 23 combined from Markus Harding and Jaden Daughtry. Given the Racers' smaller interior, it shouldn't be a huge surprise that teams try to score inside.
The tallest starters are 6-foot-7 forwards Nick Ellington and AJ Ferguson. That won't be an ideal matchup for a Nebraska team that starts five players 6-foot-5 or taller and three players 6-foot-6 or taller.
Depth also isn't a strength for Murray State, as it deploys an eight-man rotation.
The Racers need to limit their turnovers in this matchup. They gave the ball away 14 times in the loss to Western Kentucky, and letting the Huskers get transition looks from giveaways is a potential nightmare.
The best path to Murray State covering is shooting it well from 3, as it is connecting on 36% of its shots but on fairly low volume.
Nebraska vs. Murray State Betting Analysis
Back to what I touched on earlier, I'm worried about Murray State matching the Cornhuskers' intimidating length.
If Nebraska can effectively get the ball inside and attack the rim, it will open up the perimeter from looks from deep.
Plus, who on Murray State's roster can defend Williams? There isn't a great option to contain a 6-foot-7 guard like Williams.
I smell a double-digit win for the Huskers.
