Nebraska Is The Better Team Back Them Over Bruins

Nebraska vs. UCLA, 11:00 ET

There are some teams that are feel-good stories, and you just want them to do well. I don't think that many people outside of Florida were upset that Indiana won the National Championship. I'm sure there are rival schools that I'm not considering, but the point is that it was a good story for College Football. People like seeing underdogs, and they like to root against the "evil empires" of the world like Duke, Kentucky, and others. Nebraska, for much of the season, has been a feel-good story, but they look to once again be underdogs tonight against UCLA. 

Nebraska has just four losses this season, and they are 25-4 overall with a 14-4 mark in Big Ten play. They are ranked highly at the moment, but you have to wonder if teams are really scared to play the Cornhuskers. I'm going to take you on a trip through the schedule really quickly. They started the season going 20-0 and were one of the last remaining undefeated teams. However, in their first eight games, you'd be hard-pressed to find really talented teams that they faced. Sure, they beat Oklahoma and Kansas State on neutral courts, but both of those games were battles. In the next 12 games, they did get some tougher competition. They beat Illinois at Illinois, routed Wisconsin, and snuck by Michigan State. There were also a number of wins in that stretch that saw them narrowly escape with a win. They are now 5-4 since that stretch. Their first loss to Michigan, then a revenge game loss to Illinois. Purdue took them down in overtime, and they lost to Iowa on the road four games ago. In that stretch, their only wins have been over Rutgers, Northwestern, Penn State, Maryland, and USC who just lost their highest scorer… probably because he is now eligible for social security after being one of the older college basketball players. 

Los Angeles, CA - February 07:  Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the Washington Huskies in the second half of a Men's NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 7, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

UCLA comes into this game having a decent year, but they are also not likely to strike much fear into an opponent's heart. At 19-10 and 11-7 in Big 10 play, I'd expect them to make the NCAA Tournament, but they could be a bubble team. In fact, if it matters to you at all, ESPN's bracketology article from yesterday has them as one of those field of 68 teams, meaning they would play for a chance to play in the actual main bracket. So, officially, a bubble team. Is it justified? The Bruins have played six ranked teams this season and are just 1-5, having beaten Illinois in overtime two Saturdays ago. The best way to describe the team is inconsistent. Certain games they look like they can compete with a lot of good teams. In other games, they look like they've never played basketball before. The Bruins are not a very big team, but they can be a very good three-point shooting team. This is probably why some games they look great, and others they don't.

I'm not trying to insinuate that the Bruins shoot more threes than the average team. They are only at 20.6 per game. Nebraska actually shoots 10 more per game than the Bruins. They shoot better at home, and play better defense at home against the deep ball, which is probably why there has been a push for the line to move toward UCLA. This also has to do, likely with UCLA losing to Minnesota and needing to win since they are on the bubble. I just don't see how they get there without a perfect game. Nebraska will have to be terrible from the floor, and I think they want to ride as much momentum as possible going into the Big 10 Tournament. I'll fade the line movement and take Nebraska on the moneyline. 

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