#9 Illinois vs. #5 Nebraska Picks and Predictions: Big Ten Basketball
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Sat Jan 31, 2026, 7:21 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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It's the first Sunday without football in quite some time, and as we all prepare for Super Bowl 60 next week, there is a top 10 Big Ten battle in Lincoln that needs to be discussed. The No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini and Brad Underwood look for revenge against the No. 5 Nebraska Cornhuskers, after Big Red beat them by three at the State Farm Center. Still missing Kylan Boswell, will things be different this time around? Or can the Huskers bounce back following their first loss of the season? Let's get into our favorite picks.
Best Bet: Illinois/Nebraska Over 150 (-110) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
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#9 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. #5 Nebraska Cornhuskers NCAA Basketball Insights
Pryce Sandfort scored 32 in the Huskers' last meeting against Illinois
The Cornhuskers started off the season 20-0 before losing to Michigan in Ann Arbor earlier this week. They led most of the game and some controversial calls down the stretch may have helped the hosts get over the hump. Nevertheless, Nebraska already beat this Illinois team once. And they have an extra couple days of rest, which may or may not come into play, but certainly can't hurt.
As for the Illini, they are still missing Boswell, their senior leader and defensive engine. But this team is very deep, and other guys have stepped up in his place, specifically freshman Keaton Wagler who has led the team in scoring in five of their last seven games. The young stud is averaging 27 points per contest in Boswell's absence. Will he be able to lead the team to another huge road victory on Sunday?
Matchup Information – Illinois vs. Nebraska – February 1
- Venue & Location: Pinnacle Bank Arena (Lincoln, NE)
- Date: Sunday, February 1, 2026
- Kick Off: 4:00 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: FS1
Illinois vs. Nebraska Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of January 31, 2026 at 6:49 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- Illinois +2 (-110)
- Nebraska -2 (-110)
Total
- Over 150 (-110)
- Under 150 (-110)
If I am the Illini, I am severely scared of the Huskers in this spot. You should have beat them at home, but Pryce Sandfort went for 32 points, and the entire Cornhusker team shot 46% from beyond the arc. Is that sustainable? Probably not, but on their home floor they will be tough to stop.
#9 Illinois vs. #5 Nebraska NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions
Keaton Wagler has led the Illini in scoring for two straight games
Illinois vs. Nebraska Prediction: Illinois Wins Outright, Over 150
Best Bet: Illinois/Nebraska Over 150 (-110) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Yes, the prediction says I think the Illini get the job done. But I am certainly not fading the Huskers at home coming off their first loss of the season. This is the clearest bounce back spot in the history of sports gambling, and everyone will be pressing the Nebraska button on Sunday afternoon. But I'll opt to attack the total since I think it will tick up.
We saw a total of 155.5 the first time these teams met, and it went over with 163 total points. Now it is down over five points for this contest in Lincoln, and I'll simply take the lower number and thank the books later. Nebraska isn't the fastest team ever, but they shoot a ton of threes and are top 90 in 3P% as a team. But they really beat you by taking care of the ball and knocking down everything inside the arc.
We saw just 14 combined turnovers in the first matchup, which means both offenses are able to do whatever they please and get decent looks on each possession. Illinois also isn't shy from deep, and they actually shoot better away from home so far this season. While the pace should possibly scare me off of this over, I believe both offenses will come to play and give fans an entertaining matchup.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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