Nebraska vs UCF Prediction 4/6/25 College Basketball Picks

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are facing the UCF Knights on Sunday, April 6th at the T-Mobile Arena, in this College Basketball Crown Final. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Nebraska Cornhuskers vs UCF Knights Prediction. We will examine:

The Nebraska Cornhuskers recent form and player performance

The UCF Knights recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Nebraska Cornhuskers

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the UCF Knights

Recent betting trends in games played between the Nebraska CornhuskersvsUCF Knights

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for Nebraska Cornhuskers vs UCF Knights game

UCF Knights Preview

The UCF Knights have a 20-16 record this season and were placed 14th in the Big 12. UCF is coming off a 104-98 win over Villanova in the Crown Semifinals. The Knights are 18-18 against the spread, and 21-13-2 in over/under. 

Offensively, UCF is averaging 80.1 points per game, which is 69th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 80.5 points per game (345th). The Knights shoot with 42.7% from the field (323rd), and with 34.1% from beyond the arc (237th). The Knights shoot with 77.5% from the free-throw line (21st), and are grabbing 32.9 rebounds per game (137th).

Darius Johnson leads UCF in scoring with an average of 29.3 points, adding 4.3 rebounds and a team-high 5.7 assists, while Tyler Hendricks adds 13.7 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game.  

Nebraska Cornhuskers Preview

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have a 20-14 record this season and were placed 16th in the Big Ten. Nebraska is coming off a 79-69 win over Boise State in the Crown Semifinals. The Cornhuskers are 19-15 against the spread, and 16-18 in over/under.

Offensively, Nebraska is averaging 76 points per game, which ranks 134th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 72.8 points per game (210th). The Cornhuskers shoot with 45.5% from the field (153rd), and with 33.3% from beyond the arc (264th). The Cornhuskers shoot with 75.4% from the free-throw line (84th), and are grabbing 32.7 rebounds per game (151st).

Brice Williams leads Nebraska in scoring with an average of 24 points, adding 4 rebounds and 3.7 assists, while Juwan Gary adds 18.7 points and a team-high 8 rebounds per game.

Why the UCF Knights will win

• UCF has won each of its last seven games against non-Conference opponents.
• UCF has won the first half in each of its last eight games against non-Conference opponents.

Why the Nebraska Cornhuskers will win

• Nebraska has won each of its last 10 games against non-Conference opponents.
• UCF has lost three of its last four day games after coming off overtime.
• Nebraska has won the first half in nine of its last 10 games against non-Conference opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Twenty-four of Nebraska’s last 25 day games against non-AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 158 or fewer points.
• Six of UCF’s last seven games at a neutral venue have produced a total of 159+ points.

Matchup/League Facts

• UCF ranks 13th among Division 1 teams for free throws made per game this season (17.5).
• UCF ranks 16th among Division 1 teams for pace this season (71.8).
• Nebraska ranks 357th among Division 1 teams for opponent three-point field goal attempts per game this season (27.9).

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs UCF Knights Prediction

In their only previous meeting back in 2017, UCF won 68-59 on the road, covering the spread. In this Nebraska Cornhuskers vs UCF Knights Prediction, Nebraska is coming as -3.5-point favorites. Both teams are fairly even this season, as both have the same number of wins, and UCF is better offensively, while Nebraska is better defensively. Nebraska had been struggling prior to the Crown Tournament, as they had five consecutive losses, but they stepped up their game in Crown, winning and covering the spread in all of their three games.

UCF has been in good form lately as well, as they are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and 6-1 against the spread in their last 7, but I don’t trust them in this spot, so I see no value on either side. The total is set at 158.5, which is very high for a tournament final. Both teams have been scoring a lot, but when the stakes are high, the tempo slows down and defenses step up. Both teams have also not been very good in shooting, as UCF is a bottom-40 team in field goal percentage, and both teams are way below the nation average in 3-point percentage. Take the under 158.5 points.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Under 158.5