Nebraska vs Ohio State Prediction 1/5/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Nebraska Cornhuskers will meet on Monday evening in a Big Ten Conference matchup at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes enter Monday night’s contest with a 9–3 win‑loss record, including a 2–1 mark in Big Ten play and a 7-1 record at home. The Buckeyes have compiled wins over IU Indianapolis, Purdue Fort Wayne, Appalachian State, Notre Dame, Western Michigan, Mount St. Mary’s, and Northwestern, while dropping one game to the Pittsburgh Panthers. More recently, in the Ohio State Buckeyes 86–82 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats earlier this month, Ohio State forward Brandon Noel tallied 29 points (13 of 15 shooting from the field), 7 rebounds,1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block illustrating his ability to be a strong presence in the paint for the Buckeyes.  

The Ohio State Buckeyes average 85.8 points (40th in the nation) on 51 percent shooting from the field (14th in the country) and 34.2 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. The Buckeyes are allowing opponents 72 points on 41.8 percent shooting from the field per game.

Senior guard Bruce Thornton leads the Ohio State Buckeyes backcourt averaging 20.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Senior forward Brandon Noel adds 8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, while freshman guard John Mobley Jr. contributes 14.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest.

Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Preview

The Nebraska Cornhuskers enter Monday’s matchup with a rather impressive 14–0 overall record, including a 3–0 mark in Big Ten play and a 1-0 record on the road. The Cornhuskers have amassed wins over Rutgers, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Illinois, Northwestern and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the team’s 14 game winning streak to start the 2025 regular season. Two days ago, in the Nebraska Cornhuskers 80-73 win over Rutgers, Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton accumulated 20 points (8 of 13 shooting from the field), 10 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal   

The Nebraska Cornhuskers average 81.7 points on 47 percent shooting from the field and 34.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc per game. Defensively, the Cornhuskers are allowing opponents 65.5 points which ranks 22nd in the country.    

Forward Rienk Mast leads the Nebraska Cornhuskers averaging 16.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 0.6 steals per game. Junior forward Pryce Sandfort averages 16.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest, while Jamarques Lawrence contributes 9.3 points and 2.1 rebounds per contest.

Why the Ohio State Buckeyes will win

•             Quality offense. Through 13 games played this season, the Ohio State Buckeyes average 85.8 points per game which ranks 40th in the nation.

•             Balanced roster. Thornton, Noel, and Mobley Jr. provide scoring, rebounding, and playmaking ability.

•              Elite guard play. Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr. combine for over 36 points per game.

Why the Nebraska Cornhuskers will win

•             Perfect record. The Nebraska Corenhuskers are undefeated this season (14–0).

•             Elite defense. The Cornhuskers are allowing opponents just 65.5 points which ranks 22nd in the country.    

•             Balanced scoring. Rienk Mast, Pryce Sandfort, and Jamarques Lawrence all provide double‑figure scoring threats.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Prediction

Nebraska’s three‑point volume and late‑game execution give them a slight edge in this contest, while Ohio State’s home floor and Bruce Thornton’s current form should keep this game competitive throughout the game.

For me, the over is the call in this one. Both offenses are in strong rhythm, play with pace, and neither defense is built to suppress elite guard play for 40 minutes. The scoring profiles point toward a higher‑possession game which in turn means more potential scoring opportunities for both teams. For the reasons just noted I am going with the over in this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Over 154.5