The Nebraska Cornhuskers take on the USC Trojans in Los Angeles, CA, on Saturday, Feb. 28. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
Nebraska is favored by 5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -210. USC, meanwhile, enters as a +5.5 underdog and is +175 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 146.5 total points.
Here’s my Nebraska vs. USC prediction and college basketball picks for Saturday, February 28.
Nebraska vs USC Prediction
My Pick: USC +6.5 (Play to +5)
My Nebraska vs USC best bet is on the Trojans to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Nebraska vs. USC Odds
| Nebraska Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -105 | 146.5 -108o / -112u | -210 |
| USC Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -115 | 146.5 -108o / -112u | +175 |
- Nebraska vs USC Spread: Nebraska -5.5, USC +5.5
- Nebraska vs USC Over/Under: 146.5 Points
- Nebraska vs USC Moneyline: Nebraska -210, USC +175
Nebraska vs USC College Basketball Betting Preview
Nebraska Basketball
Not long ago, Nebraska was one of the last few unbeaten teams in America. Since then, the Cornhuskers are 4-4 and have looked fairly ordinary. This stretch begs the question: Just how good is Nebraska?
During that shaky eight-game run, Nebraska has seen a noticeable decline in offensive output. The Cornhuskers rank 116th in offensive efficiency during that time, per Bart Torvik.
You'd expect the regression to be a result of poor shooting. For a team that shoots 3s on 51.9% of field-goal attempts, that would make sense. Nebraska shot 36% from deep in those eight games, but is otherwise limited, grabbing offensive rebounds and reaching the foul line 22% of the time.
So, if the shots don't fall, good luck scoring because the lack of rim pressure from the Huskers is a real issue.
The go-to scoring option for Nebraska is Pryce Sandfort. The 6-foot-7 sniper averages 17.9 points per game and shoots 40% from deep. Fred Hoiberg has three other double-figure scorers in Rienk Mast, Braden Frager and Jamarques Lawrence.
Mast is the X-factor here.
For one, he'll need to defend at a high level, which is tough for him. Secondly, Mast went from being one of the best offensive bigs in the Big Ten to averaging 12 points per game on 39% shooting and 27% from 3-point range in his last five games.
Given how often Nebraska runs its offense through Mast, he needs to shoot it better.
On the defensive end, the Huskers are the fifth-best in the country and third in their last eight games. I think things will trend in the opposite direction a bit.
Sitting third feels misleading, as opponents are shooting 53% on 2s against them in those eight games. Nebraska is also holding opponents to a wholly unsustainable 27% from deep. That'll change.
USC Basketball
Speaking of teams trending in the wrong direction, look no further than USC, which lost four straight games and has its tournament hopes on life support. Last Saturday, the Trojans lost a crusher Quad 3 game to Oregon. This Q1 win would be a nice shot in the arm for a team in desperate need of it.
The Trojans' offense's worst enemy is itself. The fit with Alijah Arenas and Chad Baker-Mazara is a bit clunky. Both want the ball in their hands and to create in one-on-one situations.
Arenas had a three-game stretch at the start of the month with three straight 24-plus point games. Over his last three, Arenas is shooting 29% from the field and is 1-for-10 from downtown — and the Trojans lost all three.
Meanwhile, Baker-Mazara scored 21 and 25 points in his last two games.
If USC can find a way for Arenas and Baker-Mazara to get rolling simultaneously, that is the jolt this scuffling Trojans offense could use.
The talent is undeniable between the two. It feels like a matter of time until both begin playing well.
Expect the Trojans to try using their size advantage to get to the foul line. They reach the charity stripe the fourth-most in the country, led by Ezra Ausar, who boasts the 12th-best free-throw rate.
Ausar's ability to lower his shoulders and use his burly 253-pound frame could lead to Mast fouling him.
On the defensive end, the Trojans limit opponents to 30% shooting from downtown. That'll provide USC with a notable advantage over Nebraska's high-volume shooting.
In all, USC ranks 45th in defensive efficiency and struggles on the glass, allowing opponents to grab offensive boards 31% of the time. Due to Nebraska's floor spacing and shooting, it won't be able to expose USC's issues on the glass.
Nebraska vs USC Pick, Betting Analysis
A distance of 1,502 miles is big, isn't it? Well, that's how far Nebraska, whose scuffling of late is traveling to play a USC team in desperate need of a win.
The Cornhuskers' path to beating USC is by hitting a bunch of 3s, but I think USC will contain them.
I also wonder if the Huskers' backcourt can hold up. Sam Hoiberg and Lawrence are solid, but Arenas and Baker-Mazara have a clear size advantage. The one-on-one identity of Arenas and Baker-Mazara may benefit the Trojans in this one.
Give me the points with USC.
My Pick: USC +6.5 (Play to +5)
