The Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhuskers are set to host the Penn State Nittany Lions in a crucial Big Ten matchup, with the Cornhuskers looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Illinois, where they were outscored 69-78, while Penn State is desperate for a quality win to bolster their tournament resume, having lost 4 of their last 5 games, including a 69-110 thrashing at the hands of Michigan, where they allowed 110 points, the most they've given up in their last 10 games. Nebraska has been averaging 69.2 points per game over their last 5 outings, while allowing 66.4 points, resulting in a slim 2.8 point margin, which might not be enough to guarantee a win against a Penn State team that, despite their struggles, has been scoring 70.2 points per game over the same period. However, the Nittany Lions' defense has been a major concern, allowing 83 points per game, which could be exploited by the Cornhuskers' offense.
Nebraska's recent form has been a mixed bag, with 2 wins and 3 losses in their last 5 games, including a 68-49 win over Northwestern, where they held the Wildcats to just 49 points, and a 80-68 win over Rutgers, where they scored 80 points, their highest total in the last 5 games. On the other hand, Penn State has been struggling, with only 1 win in their last 5 games, and their defense has been porous, allowing an average of 83 points per game, which is 12.8 points more than they've been scoring. The Nittany Lions' offense has been decent, scoring 70.2 points per game, but it's their defense that's been letting them down, and they'll need to shore it up if they hope to pull off an upset against the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska's Dominant Home Record
Key Matchups
The Cornhuskers have a few players who have been on a hot streak, including their leading scorer, who has been averaging 18.5 points per game over the last 5 outings, and their point guard, who has been dishing out 7.2 assists per game over the same period. For Penn State, their leading scorer has been struggling, scoring only 12.8 points per game over the last 5 games, which is 3.5 points below his season average. However, the Nittany Lions' power forward has been a bright spot, averaging 15.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game over the last 5 outings. The matchup between these players matters, as Nebraska's offense want to exploit Penn State's defensive weaknesses, while the Nittany Lions will try to find a way to slow down the Cornhuskers' attack.
Nebraska's offense has been decent, scoring 69.2 points per game over their last 5 outings, but it's their defense that's been the key to their success, allowing only 66.4 points per game over the same period. The Cornhuskers have been outscoring their opponents by an average of 2.8 points per game, which might not seem like a lot, but it's been enough to give them a 2-3 record over their last 5 games. Penn State, on the other hand, has been outscored by an average of 12.8 points per game, which is a significant margin, and it's no surprise that they've only managed 1 win in their last 5 games. The Nittany Lions must find a way to close this gap if they hope to pull off an upset against the Cornhuskers.
CHD Scout Prediction
Penn State
64
Nebraska
85
The CHD Scout prediction has Nebraska winning by 21.3 points, with a 95.2% win probability, which seems like a fair assessment given the recent form of both teams. The Cornhuskers' defense has been solid, and their offense has been decent, while Penn State's defense has been struggling, and their offense has been inconsistent. The Nittany Lions must find a way to slow down the Cornhuskers' attack and exploit their defensive weaknesses if they hope to pull off an upset. However, based on the numbers, it seems like a tall order, and the Cornhuskers should be able to come out on top. The reason for this prediction is that Nebraska has been playing well at home, with a 13-1 record at Pinnacle Bank Arena, and they've been dominant in their last 5 home games, outscoring their opponents by an average of 10.2 points per game.
A win for Nebraska would be a significant boost to their tournament resume, as it would give them another quality win against a Power 5 opponent. The Cornhuskers are already firmly on the top-16 seed line, but a win over Penn State would help to solidify their position and give them a better chance of securing a high seed in the tournament. On the other hand, a loss would be a significant setback for Nebraska, as it would give them their 5th loss of the season, and it would hurt their chances of securing a high seed in the tournament. For Penn State, a win would be a huge upset, and it would give them a much-needed quality win to bolster their tournament resume. The Nittany Lions are currently on the outside looking in, but a win over Nebraska would give them a significant boost and put them back in the conversation for a tournament bid.
Tournament Stakes
The tournament stakes are high for both teams, as a win or loss could have real consequences for their tournament hopes. A win for Nebraska would give them another quality win and help to solidify their position on the top-16 seed line, while a loss would be a significant setback and hurt their chances of securing a high seed. For Penn State, a win would be a huge upset, and it would give them a much-needed quality win to bolster their tournament resume, while a loss would be a significant blow to their tournament hopes. The Nittany Lions need to win games like this if they hope to make a push for a tournament bid, and a loss would make it even more difficult for them to secure a spot in the tournament. The outcome of this game will have a significant impact on the tournament landscape, and it's a must-see matchup for college basketball fans.
The recent trends suggest that Nebraska should be able to come out on top, as they've been playing well at home and have a significant advantage in terms of defense. The Cornhuskers have been allowing only 66.4 points per game over their last 5 outings, which is 16.6 points less than what Penn State has been allowing over the same period. The Nittany Lions must find a way to slow down the Cornhuskers' attack and exploit their defensive weaknesses if they hope to pull off an upset. However, based on the numbers, it seems like a tall order, and the Cornhuskers should be able to come out on top. The game will be a significant test for both teams, and it will be interesting to see how they respond to the challenge. With 69.2 points per game over their last 5 outings, Nebraska's offense has been decent, and they should be able to score enough points to secure a win.
In conclusion, the matchup between Nebraska and Penn State is a crucial one for both teams, with real consequences for their tournament hopes. The Cornhuskers are looking to bounce back from a tough loss, while the Nittany Lions are desperate for a quality win to bolster their tournament resume. The recent trends suggest that Nebraska should be able to come out on top, but the Nittany Lions must find a way to slow down the Cornhuskers' attack and exploit their defensive weaknesses if they hope to pull off an upset. With the Cornhuskers averaging 69.2 points per game over their last 5 outings, and the Nittany Lions allowing 83 points per game over the same period, it seems like a significant mismatch, and the Cornhuskers should be able to secure a win.