The Michigan Wolverines are locked in the log jam at the top of the Big Ten standings, pushing for the top seed in the home stretch.
Tonight, the Wolverines wander into Pinnacle Bank Arena to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers. A road win would give UM the inside track in the conference race, but it won’t come easy.
My Michigan vs Nebraska predictions believe the Wolverines need to sharpen up their shooting and lean into steady senior Nimari Burnett, who’s been the lone constant from beyond the arc. That’s where you’ll find my best college basketball picks on Monday, February 24.
Michigan vs Nebraska prediction
My best bet
Nimari Burnett Over 2.5 threes (+100 at bet365)
My analysis
The Michigan Wolverines watched their six-game winning streak dissolve in a home loss to rival Michigan State on Friday. Michigan fell behind and couldn’t claw its way back, thanks to a piss-poor effort from beyond the arc.
The team finished just 5-for-21 from distance (24%) and has been sketchy from 3-point range in recent games, hitting at 29% over the past three outings. Those numbers would look much worse if not for Nimari Burnett.
The senior guard finished 2-for-5 from outside in the loss to the Spartans and is a collective 8-for-19 over the last three contests (42%). On the season, Burnett is shooting 42.6% from the perimeter and will get plenty of looks against a Nebraska Cornhuskers defense that sells out at stopping interior scoring.
The Huskers match Michigan’s size inside and routinely collapse on anything around the paint, pushing everything into the help defense on the block. While Nebraska limits open looks around the basket, it leaves a lot of room on the outside for 3-point shooters.
On the year, the Cornhuskers have watched foes jack up the seventh most 3-point attempts (28 per game) in the country, with opponents converting 9.5 of those long-range looks (34%).
Michigan head coach Dusty May talked about his team’s shaky shooting from deep after the loss to MSU, but said he wasn’t shying away from outside shooting. Instead, May preached inside-out play: compacting the defense with interior passes and then finding open shooters on the wing.
"I have no problems with him shooting threes…as long as they're inside-out threes, they're going to have to take them," May said after UM’s bad night from beyond the arc Friday.
Burnett hasn’t been as sharp on the road compared to inside Crisler Center, but he’ll have an uptick in volume versus the Huskers.
He’s recorded three or more triples in seven of his last 13 games and attempted at least six 3-point attempts in four of his last six. Some game projections call for eight, nine, and even 10 shots from distance tonight.
Those forecasts range from 2.3 makes to closer to more than three, with my number at 2.9 but recognizing the higher ceiling due to the matchup against a soft Nebraska perimeter. Burnett scored 18 in his previous trip to Pinnacle Bank Arena, making 3 of 6 from beyond the arc last season.
Michigan vs Nebraska same-game parlay (SGP)
Nimari Burnett 3+ 3-Pointers
Brice Williams 15+ Points
Michigan +1.5
Burnett will get plenty of space on the outside to fire away and knock down three or more triples.
Brice Williams’ forecasts call for more than 15 points for the Huskers’ star, with some models at 20+.
The Wolverines bounce back with most game projections giving UM the nod in a tightly-contested matchup.
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Michigan vs Nebraska odds
Michigan vs Nebraska live odds
Michigan vs Nebraska opening odds
- Spread: Michigan +1 (-110) | Nebraska -1 (-110)
- Moneyline: Michigan -110 | Nebraska -110
- Over/Under: Over 150.5 (-110) | Under 150.5 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Michigan vs Nebraska betting trend to know
Michigan is 3-1 SU and ATS as a rare underdog this season. Find more college basketball betting trends for Michigan vs. Nebraska.
How to watch Michigan vs Nebraska
| Location | Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE |
| Date | Monday, 2-24-2025 |
| Tip-off | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FS1 |
Michigan vs Nebraska key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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