NCAA Basketball Picks: Nebraska vs. Minnesota

Will it be a breakout game for the Minnesota Golden Gophers or can the Nebraska Cornhuskers hang on for a cover? Find out which team we are backing with our NCAA Basketball picks tonight.

The No. 23 Minnesota Golden Gophers have a 5-2 spread record in their last seven matchups, but have dropped their octane to 46 PPG in their last two affairs. Tubby Smith’s squad gets drop in class as part of Tuesday’s college hoops action, with the Nebraska Cornhuskers visiting Minneapolis as big dogs.

Looking for more Big Ten action? Check out our Free NCAAB Picks for the Wisconsin & Ohio State matchup.

Gophers, Hollins edged out at Wisky

Minnesota picked up a fourth straight loss in Saturday’s 45-44 defeat to the Wisconsin Badgers, while cashing as a 3 ½-point road dog. The Golden Gophers allowed two late buckets from Wisconsin’s Traevon Jackson to give the Badgers their final lead, while Minnesota was held to 34.8 percent field shooting.

Golden Gophers guard Andre Hollins notched nearly half of his squad’s scoring, finishing with 20 points and two steals. Minnesota’s Trevor Mbakwe grabbed a team-high 10 boards, while the Golden Gophers were outrebounded, 32-28.

The tight duel’s combined 89 points plunged below the ‘total’ of 125, making the UNDER 2-0 in the Golden Gophers last pair of games. Minnesota drilled 5-of-11 buckets beyond the arc, while both sides united to hit 11-of-20 free throws.

Cornhuskers, Ubel pull away at home

Nebraska moved to 5-2  ATS in its last seven games with Saturday’s 64-49 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats. The Cornhuskers

allowed a stingy mark of 32.1 percent shooting from Northwestern, while outrebounding the Wildcats, 39-31.

Cornhuskers forward Brandon Ubel notched 14 points and 12 boards, coming away with his first double-double in nine games. Northwestern’s Dylan Talley led in scoring with 20 points, knocking down 8-of-15 shots from the floor.

The contest’s combined 113 points ducked beneath the ‘total’ of 116 ½, moving the UNDER to 5-3 in the Cornhuskers’ eight games of Big Ten Conference play. Ubel added team-highs of three assists and two blocks, while mate Benny Parker logged three of his side’s eight steals.

Back Nebraska as a road dog

NCAA basketball betting odds opened Minnesota as a 19-point home favorite, with the number staying unchanged in mixed early action. The ‘total’ was first set at 123, followed by a drop to 122 ½ after initial wagers on the UNDER.

I am adding Nebraska to my evening's NCAA Basketball betting selections, looking for the Cornhuskers to stay within cashing range. Minnesota reeled off its share of ‘cupcake’ blowouts to start the year, but has begun to hit the wall in its conference clashes.

The Golden Gophers have gone 1-2 ATS in their last three spots as a double-digit favorite, while allowing a sizable 54.9 percent shooting in their most recent home date against the Michigan Wolverines. Minnesota comes in fuming after dropping recent battles, but could also have the wind out of its sails after failing to regain steam following its setbacks to Michigan and Indiana.

Nebraska has held its own in road spots, cashing at 3-0 ATS in its last trio of duels away from home. The Cornhuskers pulled out a 68-64 victory against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the most recent battle of the span, holding Penn State to 38.6 percent shooting en route to collecting as a four-point dog.

Nebraska’s Brandon Ubel ranks fourth in the Big Ten for boards (7 RPG) and could give Minnesota’s Trevor Mbakwe an intense rebounding battle here. Look for the Cornhuskers to put up just enough buckets to cash as large underdogs, adding to a 4-1 ATS mark in their last five spots against squads with winning records.