The Nebraska Cornhuskers take on the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, WI. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
Wisconsin is favored by 8.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -360. The total is set at 151.5 points.
Here are my Nebraska vs. Wisconsin predictions and college basketball picks for January 26, 2025.
Nebraska vs Wisconsin Prediction
My Pick: PASS | Lean Nebraska +8.5
My Nebraska vs Wisconsin best bet is on the Cornhuskers spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Nebraska vs Wisconsin Odds
| Nebraska Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -112 | 151.5 -112o / -108u | +285 |
| Wisconsin Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -108 | 151.5 -112o / -108u | -360 |
- Nebraska vs Wisconsin spread: Wisconsin -8.5
- Nebraska vs Wisconsin over/under: 151.5 points
- Nebraska vs Wisconsin moneyline: Wisconsin -360, Nebraska +285
- Nebraska vs Wisconsin best bet: PASS | Lean Nebraska +8.5
Spread
I'm passing on this game, but I lean toward Nebraska at the current number.
Moneyline
I'm passing on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm passing on the over/under.
My Pick: PASS | Lean Nebraska +8.5
Nebraska vs Wisconsin College Basketball Betting Preview
What's happened to Nebraska? The Cornhuskers have lost six straight, and the home loss to USC last Wednesday can’t happen if you’re Fred Hoiberg.
Can the Huskers bounce back on the road against Wisconsin?
It’s a decent matchup on paper.
Wisconsin plays inside-out basketball, leveraging Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter in the post while running ball screens with the Max Klesmit, John Tonje and John Blackwell trio on the perimeter.
But Nebraska’s defense is all about complete and total post-denial. And it’s really tough to run downhill-driving ball screens against the Cornhuskers’ compact set defense that mucks up the interior.
That said, Nebraska’s compact defense also allows the highest 3-point rate in the league (47%, per KenPom). That could be a death sentence against Wisconsin, which launches 3s at the highest rate in the conference (48% 3-point rate, per KenPom).
On the other end of the court, Nebraska runs a dribble-hand-off zoom offense primarily fueled by Brice Williams' rugged shot-making prowess.
Wisconsin’s dribble handoff defense is rather lousy (1.01 PPP allowed, 13th percentile, per Synergy), as the Badgers’ wings and bigs are all laterally slow — they’ve all had a tough time staying in front of the dribble this season, as well.
On paper, the Huskers can exploit the Badgers by moving them around.
So, I like this matchup for the Cornhuskers on paper and would lean their way on the spread.
But I can’t trust them right now, and Wisconsin will be motivated to pick up a bounce-back win after Tuesday’s two-point road loss at UCLA.
Ultimately, this is a high-variance game dependent on whether Wisconsin hits 3s over the top of Nebraska’s compact defense. If the Badgers make them, they should win by double digits. If they miss, they could lose outright.
