The Indiana Hoosiers take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln, NE. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Nebraska is favored by 4 points on the spread with a moneyline of -190. The total is set at 155.5 points.
Here’s my Indiana vs. Nebraska predictions and college basketball picks for December 13, 2024.
Indiana vs Nebraska Prediction
My Pick: Nebraska -2.5 (Play to -3.5)
My Indiana vs Nebraska best bet is on the Cornhuskers spread, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Indiana vs Nebraska Odds, Lines, Pick
| Indiana Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4 -110 | 155.5 -110 / -110 | +160 |
| Nebraska Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4 -110 | 155.5 -110 / -110 | -190 |
- Indiana vs Nebraska spread: Nebraska -4
- Indiana vs Nebraska over/under: 155.5 points
- Indiana vs Nebraska moneyline: Nebraska -190, Indiana +160
- Indiana vs Nebraska best bet: Nebraska -2.5 (Play to -3.5)
My Indiana vs Nebraska College Basketball Betting Preview
Indiana Basketball
I've said it about 750 times in the past year, but the road life — particularly in the Big Ten — is challenging. Indiana has yet to play a true road game this year — it played three neutral-site games at the Battle 4 Atlantis.
The Hoosiers will hit the road for the first time in 2024-25 in this one.
Indiana still has some offensive concerns, particularly in the shooting and turnover departments. Although the Hoosiers shot 35% from 3, they attempt treys on just 29% of their field goal attempts.
The lack of perimeter jumpers allows defenses to sag off Malik Reneau on the perimeter. Also, Oumar Ballo is a total non-shooter, so teams will dare Indiana to launch from deep.
Ballo was very effective in the high-low game with skilled fours during his time at Arizona, and Reneau is starting to execute the high-low at a high level.
Still, Mackenzie Mgbako is the lone shooter who instills fear in opposing defenses. Mgbako is a very dynamic offensive weapon who shoots 51% from the floor and 43% from 3.
While starting guards Myles Rice and Trey Galloway shoot good percentages from downtown, both launch 2.4 3s or fewer per game. That isn't enough to scare defenses.
Head coach Mike Woodson must have spent extra time correcting Indiana's defensive issues, which appeared mostly effort-based. In the past three games, the Hoosiers held Miami (OH), Sam Houston State and Minnesota to fewer than 1.00 PPP.
That's not the stiffest competition, but just showing more effort is a positive step.
Nebraska Basketball
Nebraska fans must be ecstatic that this game is in Pinnacle Bank Arena, not the Breslin Center. Michigan State made sure the Huskers' flight back to Lincoln was a quiet one, as the Spartans unleashed an 89-52 beating on Saturday.
Can Nebraska bounce back just one game later?
The Cornhuskers are exceptional on the defensive end, even with their disastrous showing in East Lansing. Nebraska ranks 33rd in KenPom's defensive efficiency and is one of the best in the Big Ten at forcing turnovers (22nd nationally in turnover rate).
Even in the loss to Michigan State, Nebraska forced 17 turnovers, the same amount it forced against Creighton in a huge win a few weeks ago.
I don't have as much faith in the Nebraska offense, however. Shooting is a real problem for the Cornhuskers, as they hit just 28% from 3 and really only have two trustworthy shotmakers.
Brice Williams is Nebraska's best offensive player, leading the team with 17.5 points per game and on 37% from 3.
A name familiar to Big Ten fans, Connor Essegian, has re-discovered his elite shooting form in Lincoln, connecting on 43% from 3.
Besides those two, there's virtually no shooting on Nebraska's roster. I don't know how much it will matter here since Indiana doesn't have an abundance of shooters either, but worries loom with Rollie Worster and Juwan Gary hitting below 25% from 3.
Another big thing for Nebraska is its interior depth. Uber-athletic 7-foot-1 center Braxton Meah is the starter, while scoring big Andrew Morgan and floor-stretcher Berke Buyuktuncel figure to play a role.
Each player adds a different element to Nebraska's attack, and playing Buyuktuncel against Ballo could lead to an advantage in the pick-and-roll game if Ballo gets caught defending the perimeter.
Hoiberg has numerous options to toy around with.
Indiana vs. Nebraska Betting Analysis
Opponents attempt 3s on 57% of their field goals against Nebraska, while Indiana is reluctant to shoot. Something has to give.
Which side does that favor?
I will give the edge to Nebraska. The Cornhuskers have a style to contain Indiana's offensive attack — they want to put pressure on Indiana's ball-handlers, force turnovers and potentially minimize Ballo the same way they did to Ryan Kalkbrenner.
Ballo isn't the caliber of passer Kalkbrenner is, so they could force turnovers by putting extra bodies on the Hoosiers' big man.
Plus, Nebraska is at home, which is the ultimate neutralizer.
