Nebraska vs. Ohio State Odds & Betting Predictions - January 5, 2026

Good to -150. Our model makes this a fair spread of 5.98 with a fair moneyline of -331. This is the ultimate spot to fade Nebraska after their dramatic win against #9 Michigan State. Not only was it a last second victory, but it was arguably the biggest win in Nebraska basketball history. That win pushed them to 14-0, the best start the program has ever had. After such an emotional high, they now have to go on the road to face a very good Ohio State team. This is a really tough spot for the Cornhuskers. Despite being the 13th best team in the country (and likely much higher in Monday’s AP Poll), I have Nebraska rated as just the 29th best team. This team is severely overrated and not what people think. I have the Cornhuskers rated 16.0, while Ohio State sits at 15.5. This is just a 0.5 difference. These teams are far closer in talent than their records and rankings indicate. When you factor in home court advantage and the poor situational spot for Nebraska, this line should be Ohio State -3.5 at a minimum. Getting the Buckeyes moneyline at -115 was a gift that I’ll play every time. I would play this up to -150 and -2.5. Ohio State will easily have the best player on the floor in Bruce Thornton. He’s a top 10 player in the country with the ability to take over any game. The Buckeyes also have the better offense in this matchup, ranking 23rd in offensive efficiency compared to Nebraska at 44th. Ohio State owns the 7th most efficient rim attack in the country and defends the rim extremely well, which is key against a Nebraska team that isn’t a strong three point shooting group. This Ohio State team has played together for a long time, ranking 23rd in minutes continuity and 26th in Division I experience. This is a game a veteran team like this knows how to handle. Nebraska has also been very fortunate this season, grading as the second luckiest team in the nation with a 2.9 luck rating. Shot quality backs this up, showing an 11-3 SQ record compared to their current 14-0 mark. I’ll gladly fade this squad in a really tough spot. Give me the Buckeyes.

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