by Chuck Sommers
Sunday, Jan 02, 2022
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE
Where to watch: BTN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Ohio State -9.5; O/U 149.5
BetMGM: Ohio State -9.5; O/U 148.5
Caesars: Ohio State -9.5; O/U 148.5
Season record
No. 13 Ohio State: 8-2 (2-0 Big Ten)
Nebraska: 6-7 (0-2 Big Ten)
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Ohio State - Nebraska preview and analysis
Recent form
Ohio State: won four straight; won 73-55 vs. Wisconsin on Dec. 11
Nebraska: won 88-74 vs. Kennesaw State on Dec. 22
The Ohio State Buckeyes are returning to the court for the first time in three weeks on Sunday, hosting the Nebraska Cornhuskers to resume Big Ten play.
We have not seen the 13th-ranked Buckeyes since Dec. 11, an 18-point victory over the Wisconsin Badgers. They had one game postponed -- Dec. 28 against New Orleans -- while the conference postponed play due to COVID outbreaks across the conference.
The pause in the schedule made us forget just how good Ohio State is right now. It wasn't that long ago we were discussing how big of an upset Ohio State's win over the Duke Blue Devils on Nov. 30. The Buckeyes reeled off three more wins to put them at 8-2 before things shut down.
Player of the Year candidate E.J. Liddell had 28 points and nine rebounds for the Buckeyes after the power forward shot 11 of 16 from the floor. Ohio State shot 50 percent as a team despite having only one more player score in double figures; center Zed Key with 11 points and nine rebounds.
It's been easy sailing for Ohio State in conference play so far; double-digit wins over Penn State and a formerly-ranked Wisconsin team. It seems like another easy one is on the horizon for the Buckeyes when they face the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska ended a five-game losing streak on Dec. 22 with an 88-74 win against Kennesaw State. Kelsei Tominaga led the way with 18 points, and top playmaker Alonzo Verge Jr. had a 16-point, 12-assist double-double while also corralling seven rebounds. Nebraska shot 52.6 percent in that game and went 15 of 29 from 3-point range.
Ohio State has dominated this series over the past couple of seasons with five straight wins. The Buckeyes are 9-1 in the last 10 with the lone win a 1-point victory on Feb. 18, 2017 in Columbus. The under is 7-1 in the last eight.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are returning to the court for the first time in three weeks on Sunday, hosting the Nebraska Cornhuskers to resume Big Ten play.
We have not seen the 13th-ranked Buckeyes since Dec. 11, an 18-point victory over the Wisconsin Badgers. They had one game postponed -- Dec. 28 against New Orleans -- while the conference postponed play due to COVID outbreaks across the conference.
The pause in the schedule made us forget just how good Ohio State is right now. It wasn't that long ago we were discussing how big of an upset Ohio State's win over the Duke Blue Devils on Nov. 30. The Buckeyes reeled off three more wins to put them at 8-2 before things shut down.
Player of the Year candidate E.J. Liddell had 28 points and nine rebounds for the Buckeyes after the power forward shot 11 of 16 from the floor. Ohio State shot 50 percent as a team despite having only one more player score in double figures; center Zed Key with 11 points and nine rebounds.
It's been easy sailing for Ohio State in conference play so far; double-digit wins over Penn State and a formerly-ranked Wisconsin team. It seems like another easy one is on the horizon for the Buckeyes when they face the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska ended a five-game losing streak on Dec. 22 with an 88-74 win against Kennesaw State. Kelsei Tominaga led the way with 18 points, and top playmaker Alonzo Verge Jr. had a 16-point, 12-assist double-double while also corralling seven rebounds. Nebraska shot 52.6 percent in that game and went 15 of 29 from 3-point range.
Ohio State has dominated this series over the past couple of seasons with five straight wins. The Buckeyes are 9-1 in the last 10 with the lone win a 1-point victory on Feb. 18, 2017 in Columbus. The under is 7-1 in the last eight.
Prediction
That 9.5 seems like a big number for Ohio State. The Buckeyes have covered in three of the last four, but the spread was 5.5 or lower. The one loss was as 14-point favorites against Towson. I'd be wary on taking the minus, but I don't blame anyone for doing that. If OSU covers, it's going to be close. Ohio State by 10
Betting trends
Ohio State is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 road games.
The over is 17-5 in Ohio State's last 22 games.
Nebraska is 0-4 ATS in its last four against teams with a straight-up winning record.
Projected starting lineup
Ohio State:
PG: Jamari Wheeler
SG: Justin Ahrens
SF: Malaki Branham
PF: E.J. Liddell
C: Zed Key
SF: Malaki Branham
PF: E.J. Liddell
C: Zed Key
Nebraska:
PG: Kelsei Tominaga
SG: Alonzo Verge Jr.
SF: Bryce McGowens
PF: Derrick Walker
C: Lat Mayen
SF: Bryce McGowens
PF: Derrick Walker
C: Lat Mayen
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
