Game Time: 3:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 19th, 2021

Venue: Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska

Where to Watch:  Big Ten Network

 

DraftKings Sportsbook:  KSU -1.5; O/U 140.5

Caesars:  Spread: NL

VegasInsider:  Spread: NL

BetOnline: Spread: KSU -1.5; O/U 140.5

Kansas State: 0-0 conf, 6-3 overall (Big 12)

Nebraska: 0-2 conf, 5-6 overall (Big Ten)

Kansas State has lost 3 games on the season, to Illinois, Marquette, and #24 Arkansas.  A quick look at the rest of their already played schedule shows a pattern.  From their season opener on… the Wildcats can win any contest… any single game.. If the matchup is against a nobody. The opponents must be schools like Albany, Omaha, or Green Bay… total nobodies.  If you have heard of the school and occasionally think of betting on them… they are probably more than Kansas State can handle. 

Nebraska has played 2 more games than Kansas State, but does not have as many wins.  It’s like somebody extended the football season because Nebraska keeps losing games.  They have lost to Western Illinois, Creighton, NC State, Indiana, Michigan, and #13 Auburn.  Those even sound like football matchups (except Creighton).  The thing about NCAA division 1 basketball is that early in the season big schools play small schools for easy wins while small schools play big schools for easy money.  In some of these games Nebraska seems like the big school against the nobody… but in the others they seem like the school who needs the money and is handing over the easy win.  That’s a very simplistic viewpoint, but it is what seems to be happening.  Nebraska is on a 4-game losing streak and are in risk of fans not buying tickets after the first half of the season is done.

 

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KSU is 6-3 on the season, but 4-4-1 ATS.  They have logged 3 Overs and 6 Unders.  They are 1-0 in road games. (they have played 2 other games away from Kansas City, but those were neutral sites).

Neb is 5-6 on the season, but 4-7 ATS.  They have notched 7 Overs and 4 Unders.  They are 5-3 in home games.  

KSU is 208th in ppg with 71.0 per, 87th in rebounds with 35.2 per, and 65th in AST/TO ratio with 1.3.  They would have beaten Marquette if they simply hit shots at a better rate.  They are 167th in FG% with 44.6%, 144th in 3PT% with 34.5%

Neb is 115th in ppg with 75.4, 104th in rebounds per game with 34.8, and 145th in AST/TO ratio with 1.1.  They score more than KSU, but they have played a lot of South Dakota and Tennessee State types.  Fine schools with fine players, but still.  The Cornhuskers shoot the ball terribly.  They are 249th in FG% with 42.7%, 351st in 3PT% with 25.9%... and their coach made the NBA BECAUSE HE COULD SHOOT!

KSU is playing quality defense.  They clog passing lanes and play tight on the dribbler causing turnovers.  They are 33rd in defense while only allowing 59.7 ppg. They are 4th in defending the 3 point line with opponents only shooting 24.5%... the impressive part is that they are 31sdt in defending FG% by only allowing 38.4FG%.

NEB is atrocious on defense.  They are 329th in points defense while allowing a very generous 77.5 per game.

Our prediction for Sunday, December 19th, is… Kansas State 71 - Nebraska 61

KSU will handle whatever Nebraska throws at them.  They are simply a better squad.  The bet is KSU to win and cover while hitting the UNDER.

 

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.Nebraska is 9-5 ATS versus Kansas State at Nebraska since 1997.

Over the last 3 seasons, these teams have not played.

4 of 7 of these games have gone Over since 1997.

KSU:  G Mike McGuirl, G Marquis Nowell, G Mark Smith, F Kaosi Ezeagu, F Ismael Massoud

Neb: G Alonzo Verge Jr, G Bryce McGowens, G Keisei Tominaga, F Lat Mayen, F Derrick Walker

KSU

Points: Nijel Pack 14.4

Assists: Marquis Nowell 4.6

Rebounds: Mark Smith 7.8

Steals: Markquis Nowell 2.0

Blocks: Kaosi Ezeagu

NEB

Points: Bryce McGowens 16.2

Assists: Alonzo Verge Jr 5.2

Rebounds: Bryce McGowens 6.4

Steals: Trey McGowens 1.3

Blocks: Derrick Walker 1.4

KSU:  Bruce Weber.  Coach Weber took the Kansas State job in 2012.  In his 10 seasons at KSU he is 175-132.  He makes 2.6 million dollars a year.  Good work if you can get it.  The highest profile player to have played for him was Deron Williams (when Bruce coached Illinois) who was taken #3 in the NBA draft and made a few all-star teams.  However lots and lots of his players at both Illinois and Kansas State have gone on to play pro-ball internationally.

Nebraska: Fred Hoiberg.  Coach Hoiberg has regressed to where he should have been all along.  Fred played in the NBA 6 seasons as a role player.  After he was given the head coaching job at Iowa State… After 4-5 seasons at Iowa State he was inexplicably called up and given the job as head coach of the Chicago Bulls.  It didn’t go well.  He was done after 3 seasons.  He has had the Nebraska job since 2019 and it could be argued this is his fit.  This is actually where his resume should have taken him to begin with.