Spread & Over/Under Predictions For Michigan vs. Nebraska

How is Michigan going to look at home against the Cornhuskers?

Don't look now, but Michigan basketball is going for its first three-game winning streak of the season tonight as the Wolverines play host to Nebraska. 

(Okay technically Michigan won three in a row to start the year, but that included a win over Purdue Fort-Wayne...I'm not counting it.)

With Jett Howard healthy and back in the lineup, and Hunter Dickinson coming off a couple of very impressive outings, things are looking up a bit for the maize and blue. A win over Nebraska wouldn't necessarily be a resume builder, but it would give U-M 14 wins with seven regular season games remaining. Michigan still doesn't look like a tournament team, but a win tonight would be another small step in the right direction.

Spread: Michigan -11.5

Luckily for Michigan, Nebraska isn't very good and they're coming to Ann Arbor. The Wolverines obviously haven't been that great this year, so being 11.5-point favorites over the Huskers is telling. I fully expect U-M to win this game and cover. Juwan Howard's squad has won five games by at least 12 points this year — Purdue Fort-Wayne by 19, Pittsburgh by 31, Minnesota by 15, Maryland by 35, and Northwestern by 17 — and Nebraska seems to lose every game by at least 12. This is a bad formula for the Huskers and U-M is as confident as they've been all year. Mark it down — Michigan covers.

Over/Under: 137.5

If you go by the two teams' averages, the over should hit...just barely. With Michigan averaging 73.3 points per game and Nebraska averaging an even 70, that puts the total just north of 140. Of course, we know that's now how it always plays out. I do think Michigan will be able to score against Nebraska, and I think they'll eclipse the season average of 73 points, but I don't think Nebraska will get close to their average of 70. Because of that, I'd play the under here.