Michigan Wolverines vs Nebraska Cornhuskers Prediction, 12/25/2020 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Michigan Wolverines vs Nebraska Cornhuskers

Date: Friday, December 25, 2020

Location: Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, NE

TV: BTN

Odds/Point Spread: Michigan (-8)

The Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-4) host the Michigan Wolverines (6-0) at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Friday. Michigan opens this matchup as 8-point favorites. The over/under is set at 147.

Michigan comes into this contest with a mark of 6-0 on the campaign. They are averaging 82.3 points per contest (56th in the country) while connecting on 51.6% from the floor. The Wolverines are shooting 35.7% on three-point attempts (45 of 126) and 77.0% from the free throw line. As a team, Michigan is pulling in 40.8 boards per game and has totaled 110 assists so far this season, which has them ranked 96th in D-1 in terms of passing the rock. They cough up possession 12.8 times per game and as a basketball team they commit 16.2 fouls per game. On defense, the Wolverines have forced 11.0 turnovers every game and they draw 18.3 fouls. The Wolverines defensively are giving up a field goal percentage of 35.9% (138 of 384) and they surrender 31.2 boards per game as a unit. They rank 69th in college basketball in giving up assists to their opponents with 59 conceded on the year. They relinquish 33.8% from beyond the arc and they are 132nd in college basketball in PPG allowed (67.5).

The Michigan Wolverines stepped onto the hardwood against the Penn State Nittany Lions and went home with a win by a final score of 62-58 in their last contest. Michigan ended the game having earned a 44.4% FG percentage (20 out of 45) and made 5 of their 14 3-pointers. At the charity stripe, the Wolverines made 17 of their 20 shots for a percentage of 85.0%. In regard to hauling in rebounds, they earned 35 with 4 of them being offensive. They also dished out 13 assists in this matchup while earning 2 steals and 8 rejections. In reference to the defense, Michigan allowed the other team to shoot 44.4% from the field on 20 out of 45 shooting. Penn State doled out 10 dimes and had 7 steals for this contest. Additionally, the Nittany Lions totaled 30 rebounds (10 offensive, 20 defensive) and earned 8 blocked shots. Penn State finished shooting 73.3% at the free throw line by burying 11 of their 15 attempts. They buried 7 out of their 19 shots from 3-point land.

Isaiah Livers is someone who saw a lot of court time in the game. He ended up scoring 10 points on 1 out of 7 shooting. He was on the court for 35 minutes and also pulled down 6 boards. Livers finished 14.3% from the field and dished out 2 assists. Someone else that played big minutes in this game for the Wolverines was Eli Brooks. He snagged 4 rebounds and also earned 2 dimes. He shot 42.9% from the floor for the contest by shooting 3-of-7 (12 points). Overall, Brooks was on the court for 35 min.

Nebraska has a mark of 4-4 for the season. The Cornhuskers commit 16.9 fouls every game and they connect on 64.9% from the free throw line. They are getting an assist 15.0 times per contest (98th in Division 1) and they are losing possession via turnover 12.8 times per game. Nebraska has scored 624 points this year (78.0 per game) and they average 41.4 boards per game. On the offensive side of the court, the Cornhuskers are shooting 42.5% from the field, which ranks 258th in college basketball. The Cornhuskers are ranked 163rd in D-1 in PPG surrendered with 69.3. They are forcing 15.5 TO's per game and allow teams to shoot 39.2% from the field (63rd in D-1). The Nebraska defense gives up 31.4% on shots from beyond the perimeter (69 of 220) and their opposition makes 68.8% of their foul shots. They give up 13.8 dimes and 39.6 boards per game, which is ranked 223rd and 292nd in college basketball.

When they last stepped on the hardwood, the Nebraska Cornhuskers walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 67-53 when they played the Wisconsin Badgers. The Cornhuskers were able to snag 23 defensive rebounds and 5 offensive boards totaling 28 in this contest. They stuffed 6 attempts while recording 6 steals in this contest. The Badgers earned 12 personal fouls for the contest which got the Cornhuskers to the free throw line for 17 tries. They were able to knock down 9 of the free throws for a percentage of 52.9%. When discussing shots from beyond the perimeter, Nebraska knocked down 8 out of their 27 attempts (29.6%). When the final whistle blew, the Cornhuskers ended up shooting 18 for 54 from the field which had them sitting at 33.3%. The Cornhuskers permitted the Badgers to make 22 of 55 attempts from the field which gave them a shooting percentage of 40.0% in this contest. They finished 30.8% from 3-point land by going 8 of 26 and ended up going 15 out of 15 at the free throw line (100.0%). In the matter of rebounding, Nebraska permitted Wisconsin to snag 39 in all (5 on the offensive side).

Dalano Banton ended up being a major contributor for the Cornhuskers in the game. He buried 5 of 12 in this matchup giving him a field goal percentage of 41.7%, which got him 15 points. Banton snagged 8 boards in his 34 mins played and totaled 4 assists for the matchup. An additional guy that ended up playing a role for Nebraska was Trey McGowens. He walked away with 10 points in 30 minutes played by going 2 out of 7 from the floor in this contest. McGowens finished going 28.6% from the floor and also earning 2 assists and 6 total rebounds.

Who will win tonight's college basketball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Michigan (-8)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here