Nebraska Football Favored in Pinstripe Bowl in Early Betting Lines

Oddsmakers list the Huskers as 3½-point favorites over Boston College.

Nov 23, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) passes against Wisconsin Badgers defensive lineman Dillan Johnson (76) during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Nebraska football's bowl-less streak was snapped this season, and now the Cornhuskers have broken another drought for the program dating back to 2010.

For the first time since the 2010 Holiday Bowl, Nebraska is listed as an early betting favorite for its bowl game. The Cornhuskers are set as 3½-point favorites over the Atlantic Coastal Conference's Boston College Eagles for the 2024 Pinstripe Bowl. The contest, Nebraska's first bowl since 2016, will be played in New York City on Dec. 28 with an 11 a.m. CST kickoff.

Nebraska (6-6, 3-6 B1G) opened as favorites for the first time since 2010 when the Big Red was listed as 11½-point favorites over Washington in the Holiday Bowl. The Huskers lost 19-7 to Washington in San Diego after defeating the Huskies handily during the regular season.

Nebraska running back Roy Helu Jr. is tackled for a loss during the 2010 Holiday Bowl. / Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Nebraska failed to open as favorites in the Huskers' next six bowl appearances from 2011 to 2016. The Huskers did manage two wins during time, against Georgia in the Gator Bowl (24-19) after the 2013 seson and against UCLA in the 2015 Foster Farms Bowl (37-29).

The over/under total in the Pinstripe Bwl is set at 45½ points. Boston College (7-5, 4-4 ACC) finished 57th in the NCAA in points scored per game, averaging 29 points per game, while Nebraska was tied for 97th at just under 24. Both offenses rank in the bottom tier of major college football in total offense, as the Eagles finished 88th with 366.8 yards per contest with Nebraska at 94th with 358.7 yards per game.

Nebraska's defense, however, has been a strong suit this year allowing under 20 points per contest, 18th best in college football. Boston College's defense allows 24 points per game, good for 61st nationally.

Nov 11, 2023; Nebraska defensive lineman Nash Hutmacher celebrates after getting a stop on fourth down against Maryland. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Boston College ended its reglar season with a 34-23 win over Pittsburgh on Nov. 30, assuring the Eagles of a winning season in coach Bill O'Brien's first season with BC. The Huskers are coming off a 13-10 loss at Iowa, which dropped them to 6-6 on the season.

Since that Black Friday loss, the Huskers have had numerous players decide to enter the transfer portal. Likewise, the Cornhuskers' defensive coordinator, Tony White, left for Florida State along with defensive line coach Terrance Knighton. Assistant coach Garret McGuire also is leaving after being replaced as wide receivers coach by Kentucky's Daikiel Shorts.

Boston College running back Kye Robichaux (5) runs against the Pittsburgh Panthers on Nov. 30. / Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

On the season, Nebraska is 6-4-2 against the spread. The Huskers covered the spread in their wins over UTEP, Colorado, Northern Iowa, Purdue, and Wisconsin while also covering in their road loss at Ohio State. The Big Red failed to cover in losses against Illinois, Indiana, UCLA, USC, and Iowa while failing to cover in their home win over Rutgers.

Nebraska and its opponents have hit the over in only four of their contests this season, and the Big Red are 1-3 in games which the over hits. The lone win was the Cornhuskers' 44-25 victory against Wisconsin to clinch bowl eligibility. The losses included a 31-24 overtime defat at home to Illinois, the 56-7 thrashing against Indiana, and a 27-20 home defeat to UCLA. The Huskers are 5-3 in games that finished under the projected point total.

The Huskers have been a favorite eight times this season, going 6-2 in 2024. Boston College has gone 5-0 on the year as a favorite while posting a 2-5 record when listed as an underdog. The Eagles own an 8-3-1 record against the spread this year.

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson (21) runs against the UTEP Miners on Aug. 31. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

The Pinstripe Bowl matchup is the first-ever meeting between the two programs and is the first meeting for the Cornhuskers against a member of the currect ACC since 2015.

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