Nebraska vs Oregon State Odds
Nebraska Odds | ||
---|---|---|
Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -110 | 136.5 -110o / -110u | -450 |
Oregon State Odds | ||
---|---|---|
Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -110 | 136.5 -110o / -110u | +320 |
The Oregon State Beavers meet the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, as both look to continue winning seasons. It's a neutral-site showdown at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, one of the most common sites for neutral-site games this time of the year.
Read below for Nebraska vs. Oregon State odds and a pick, including an NCAAB betting guide on Saturday, Nov. 18.
Nebraska is off to a 4-0 start, which is bringing plenty of optimism to Cornhusker fans who haven’t had much to cheer about recently. The start did come against fairly weak oppositions, though — Rider, Stony Brook, Lindenwood and Florida A&M.
It’s a little surprising Nebraska’s chemistry looks so intact, especially since the offense ran through Derrick Walker, who graduated from the program this offseason. To a smaller degree, Rienk Mast has assumed the Walker role.
Fred Hoiberg hit the portal this offseason and pulled out two of the team's best players — Mast, who leads the Huskers in scoring, rebounds and assists, and Brice Williams, who offers plenty of perimeter shooting prowess.
Nebraska lacked shooting last season sans Keisei Tominaga, so Williams opens up the offense.
Speaking of Tominaga, he's a flammable force ready to erupt. After dealing with injuries in the preseason, Tominaga is still trying to find his form. So far, he’s connected on just 6-of-17 shots from deep in two games. Surely, as time goes on, Nebraska’s best scorer will regain his crown.
While Nebraska boasts plenty of trustworthy scoring options, defense is the Huskers' bread and butter. Nebraska ranks 41st in KenPom's Defensive Efficiency. That's a welcome sight, as Nebraska has seemingly found an identity early in the year.
Oregon State must have a lucky horseshoe or something. It could easily be 1-2 right now with losses to Troy and App State, but instead, it won both games in overtime. The Beavers went to double overtime against Troy, too.
The Beavs have the best player on the court in this game — guard Jordan Pope. The sophomore is averaging over 19 points per game so far, and he's the type of player with the ability to completely take over.
Overall, Oregon State has struggled to find consistency from deep outside of Pope. The team is shooting just 30% from 3, and that’s including 42% from Pope.
Additionally, nobody is establishing themselves as a reliable second-option next to Pope. Last season, Glenn Taylor Jr. gladly eased the burden off of Pope at times, but it's currently unknown who can take on that role in 2023-24.
My best guess is sophomore forward Tyler Bilodeau, who's averaging 15 points and nine rebounds in three games.
Lastly, Oregon State plays one of the most conservative tempos in the sport. It ranks 336th in Adjusted Tempo, while Nebraska ranks 128th. Neither team is Bryant in tempo terms, but Nebraska needs to push the pace.
Nebraska vs. Oregon State
Betting Pick & Prediction
Oregon State's offense isn't good enough to score against this vaunted Nebraska defensive unit. I just don't see where the points come from outside of Pope, who Nebraska will make a concerted effort to limit.
Is Christian Wright going to emerge? There are just too many questions to believe Oregon State will turn around its offense in this one.
Additionally, I expect Nebraska to score with relative ease, but the pace should be slower. That aides in the game falling under.
Pick: Under 135
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