The Oregon State Beavers take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers 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 4.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -180. The total is set at 137.5 points.
Here are my Oregon State vs. Nebraska predictions and college basketball picks for December 25, 2024.
Oregon State vs Nebraska Prediction
My Pick: Nebraska -4.5 (Play to -5.5)
My Oregon State vs Nebraska 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.
Oregon State vs Nebraska Odds
| Oregon State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -112 | 137.5 -110o / -110u | +150 |
| Nebraska Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -108 | 137.5 -110o / -110u | -180 |
- Oregon State vs Nebraska spread: Nebraska -4
- Oregon State vs Nebraska over/under: 137.5 points
- Oregon State vs Nebraska moneyline: Nebraska -180, Oregon State +150
- Oregon State vs Nebraska best bet: Nebraska -4.5 (Play to -5.5)
Spread
I'm taking the Huskers on the spread up to 5.5
Moneyline
I have no play on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I have no play on the total.
My Pick: Nebraska -4.5 (Play to -5.5)
Oregon State vs Nebraska College Basketball Betting Preview
Based on Oregon State's record (10-2), you wouldn't expect this spread to be close to 5 points in favor of Nebraska. In fact, Bart Torvik has the Huskers favored by just two points in this Diamond Head Classic final.
Even though Wayne Tinkle has done an excellent job with a roster that lost its three double-figure scorers from last season — including Jordan Pope and Tyler Bilodeau — the Beavers haven't really played anyone yet this season.
Beyond a game against Oregon (in which they lost by three at home), the Beavers haven't faced a power-conference opponent. They also lost to North Texas (No. 72 in KenPom) — albeit by three points — and were fortunate to defeat Oakland in their previous game (trailed by 12 with 4:32 remaining).
Oregon State ranks 133rd in strength of schedule, and before this neutral-site event in Hawaii, the Beavers had played nine of their 10 games in the friendly confines of Gill Coliseum.
This is now a significant step up for Tinkle's group — playing a KenPom top-50 opponent in Nebraska at a neutral site.
Meanwhile, the Cornhuskers have not only tested themselves, but they beat Creighton on the road and Indiana at home.
Most importantly, Fred Hoiberg's defense has been stellar this season, ranking 16th in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency metric. Nebraska is allowing just 52 points across two games on the islands, so not having Pope's shot creation in this matchup will magnify an Oregon State weakness.
Also, when Nebraska beats teams, it doesn't just win — it wins big. The Cornhuskers have been victorious by an average margin of 18.7 points per game, including just one victory by single digits (Bethune-Cookman by five in the second game of the season).
Not having many offensive options beyond Brice Williams could be an issue for Nebraska, but the team cruised past Murray State despite the 6-foot-7 senior scoring just nine points. He then rebounded to drop 32 against Hawaii.
Nebraska also has an advantage in the paint. Oakland's interior duo of Buru Naivalurua and Allen Mukeba burned the Beavers in the last round, giving Berke Buyuktuncel, Juwan Gary and Andrew Morgan an edge.
Oregon State is stepping up in weight class, it won't be able to efficiency score and create shots against Nebraska's defense, and it has its hands full guarding Williams and on the interior. Give me the Cornhuskers to win by more than five.
