On Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 4:00 PM ET, the Nebraska Cornhuskers will play against the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, IL. This Big Ten conference game will be shown on BTN. Nebraska, ranked #8, is the favorite with a spread of -5.5, while Northwestern is the underdog with a spread of +5.5.

Nebraska vs. Northwestern Betting Prediction

• Spread Prediction: Nebraska -5.5. Nebraska is undefeated this season and has a strong record against the spread as a favorite. Northwestern has struggled both straight up and against the spread.
• Over/Under Prediction: Under 148.5. Nebraska games have hit the under in 11 of 17 games this season, and their pace of play is slow with only 60 possessions per game.

Team Trends

• The Nebraska Cornhuskers have a perfect 17-0 record for the 2026 season.
• Northwestern Wildcats have not won any of their last three games.
• Nebraska is favored by 5.5 points in their matchup against Northwestern.
• The Over/Under for the game is set at 148.5 points.
• The game will be held at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, IL, and broadcast on BTN.

Nebraska vs Northwestern Preview

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are heading to Evanston to play the Northwestern Wildcats. Nebraska is off to a strong start this season with a perfect 17-0 record. They recently defeated the Oregon Ducks by 35 points, showing their scoring ability. Pryce Sandfort stood out with 28 points in that game. Nebraska’s away record is 3-0, and they are ranked #8 in the AP poll.

Northwestern is looking to improve their season after a recent loss to Illinois. They have an overall record of 8-9 and a home record of 7-5. Jayden Reid had a good performance against Illinois, scoring 28 points. Despite their recent struggles, Northwestern will aim to use their home-court advantage in this Big Ten matchup.

Northwestern Wildcats: Home Court Challenges

The Northwestern Wildcats hold a record of 8-9 this season. At home, they have a stronger performance with a 7-5 record. Playing in the Big Ten conference, they aim to improve their standing with each game. In recent games, the Wildcats faced tough competition. They lost to Illinois by 11 points and to Rutgers by 2 points. Despite these losses, players like Jayden Reid and Nick Martinelli showed strong performances. The Wildcats average 78.5 points per game, ranking them 165th in scoring. Their field goal percentage is 47.3, placing them 88th. However, they struggle with three-point shooting, making only 31.3% of their attempts.

Nebraska Cornhuskers: Unbeaten Streak on the Road

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are having a strong season. They hold a perfect 17-0 record. On the road, they have won all three games. In their recent game against the Oregon Ducks, Nebraska won by 35 points. Pryce Sandfort scored 28 points. Sam Hoiberg added 11 points and 5 assists. Nebraska averages 81.7 points per game. They make 47.2% of their field goals. Their three-point shooting stands at 35.2%.

Final Betting Pick

Nebraska is a strong pick to cover the -5.5 spread. They are undefeated this season with a 17-0 record. Their away record is also perfect at 3-0. Nebraska has shown they can win on the road, which makes them reliable in this game. Northwestern, on the other hand, has struggled with an 8-9 record and a 1-4 record away from home.

The under 148.5 is a solid choice due to Nebraska’s slow pace. They average only 60 possessions per game, which ranks them 254th. Northwestern is even slower with 58 possessions per game, ranking 340th. This slow pace from both teams suggests a lower-scoring game.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.