Nebraska Cornhuskers vs UCLA Bruins Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our UCLA vs Nebraska NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Lincoln.

UCLA vs Nebraska Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Bruins and Cornhuskers. The game is starting at 2:00 ET on FOX, and it's hosted by the Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, NE. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 133.5 points, and Nebraska is favored by -1.5 to win at home against UCLA.

UCLA vs. Nebraska Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: UCLA Bruins at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Where: Lincoln at Pinnacle Bank Arena
Date: Saturday, January 4th
Betting Odds NEBR -1.5, UCLA +104 | NEBR -125 O/U 133.5

Bruins Preview: Can UCLA Pull Out the Win as Road Underdogs?

UCLA improved to 11-2 on the season with a 65-62 win over Gonzaga on Saturday. The Bruins, who were +4.5 underdogs going into the game, not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread. The total points for the game were 127, well below the O/U line of 148.5.

UCLA led 27-25 at halftime and scored 38 points in the second half while allowing 37. The Bruins’ ability to keep Gonzaga’s offense in check was a key factor in the win.

Bruins Offense Breakdown

UCLA's offense struggled in their last game, shooting just 36.4% from the field, including a dismal 25.8% on two-point attempts. However, they connected on 50% of their three-point shots, hitting 12 of 24 from beyond the arc.

Graham Ike led the way with 24 points, shooting 68.8% overall and hitting his only three-point attempt. Eric Dailey Jr. added 18 points, going 4-for-5 from three, while Ryan Nembhard contributed 16 points and 8 assists.

Bruins Team Defense

UCLA's defense gave up 62 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 45% from the field on 25 of 55 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 18 of 31 shooting, which is 58%.

From three-point range, UCLA held their opponent to 7 of 24 shooting, or 29%. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 8 times, where they made 5, shooting 62%. UCLA allowed 8 offensive rebounds.

Cornhuskers Preview: Can the Cornhuskers Pull Off a Home Win?

Nebraska Cornhuskers Recent Game/Games

Nebraska improved to 11-2 this season with a dominant 77-43 win over Southern on Monday. The Cornhuskers, who were -22 point favorites, covered the spread with ease. The total points for the game were 120, falling well short of the 141.5 O/U line.

Nebraska took control early, leading 39-15 at halftime. They continued to play strong defense in the second half, allowing just 28 points while scoring 38 of their own.

Cornhuskers Offense Breakdown

Nebraska's offense put up 77 points in their last game, shooting 49.1% from the field and 43.3% from three-point range, hitting 13 of 30 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 60.4%, and they added 12 free throws on 18 attempts, shooting 66.7% from the line.

Connor Essegian led the way with 20 points, hitting 6 threes at a 50% clip. Nebraska dished out 22 assists as a team, with Brice Williams contributing 4 assists and 7 rebounds, while also scoring 11 points.

Cornhuskers Team Defense

Despite Nebraska's defensive efforts, they gave up 43 points while allowing the opponent to shoot 49% from the field. The Cornhuskers allowed 13/23 shooting on two-point attempts, a 56% success rate.

From beyond the arc, Nebraska's defense saw the opponent hit 13/30 threes, shooting 43%. The opponent also went 12/18 from the free-throw line. Nebraska allowed 8 offensive rebounds.

Bruins vs Cornhuskers Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

The Bruins are 3-0 ATS in their three last road games and 3-0 straight-up.
Across the Cornhuskers last ten home games, the team averaged 73 points per game while allowing 73. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 6-4, while going 5-5 straight-up.
Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Bruins have gone 7-3 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 6-4.
The Cornhuskers have played well in their last three games as the betting favorite, going 3-0 straight up and 3-0 against the spread.