The No. 23 Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-0) take on the No. 13 Illinois Fighting Illini (8-2) in Champaign, Illinois. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Illinois is favored by -9.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -450. The total is set at 157.5 points.
Here’s my Nebraska vs. Illinois prediction and college basketball picks for December 13, 2025.
Nebraska vs Illinois Prediction, Pick
My Pick: Illinois -10 or Better
My Nebraska vs Illinois best bet is on the Illini to cover. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Nebraska vs. Illinois Odds, Spread, Over/Under
| Nebraska Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -110 | 157.5 -110o / -110u | +350 |
| Illinois Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -110 | 157.5 -110o / -110u | -450 |
- Nebraska vs Illinois spread: Illinois -9.5
- Nebraska vs Illinois over/under: 157.5 points
- Nebraska vs Illinois moneyline: Nebraska +350, Illinois -450
Nebraska vs Illinois Game Preview
Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Preview
Nebraska is arguably the biggest surprise in college hoops.
The Cornhuskers began the season ranked 51st in KenPom, but they're now 9-0 and ranked 27th.
Their most recent triumph, a blowout win over Wisconsin, is the season's most significant achievement.
As one of the pioneers of the "pace and space" era of basketball, Fred Hoiberg has it firing on all cylinders in Lincoln. If you can't space the floor, you aren't playing for Nebraska.
All five starters can shoot it, and the Cornhuskers attempt 3s just over 50% of the time. The space also leads to clean driving lanes, with the team shooting 62.3% from inside the arc.
Point forward Rienk Mast is the straw that stirs the drink. After missing all of last season with an injury, Mast is performing like an All-American. He leads Nebraska with 18 points, while adding 3.1 assists per game. He also shoots 54% from the field and 41% from deep.
Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager have also been big-time shooters. Sandfort is Nebraska's second-leading scorer with 15.4 points per game and shoots 37% from 3. Frager is a sparkplug off the bench, hitting 38% from downtown.
I'm a bit surprised that Nebraska ranks 25th nationally in defensive efficiency.
The Cornhuskers rank in the top 45 in 2-point and 3-point shooting allowed. On paper, a team with inadequate athleticism and no true rim-protector would struggle on that end. Plus, Jamarques Lawrence and Sam Hoiberg are both smaller guards.
With league play looming, you have to wonder if those concerns flare up with more brutal battles on the radar.
Illinois Illini Betting Preview
Illinois is fresh off a highly impressive two-game stretch, beating Tennessee on a neutral court and Ohio State in Columbus.
The Fighting Illini posted superb offensive performances in both games, scoring 1.26 PPP against OSU and 1.21 against Tennessee.
Illinois is one of the best offensive teams in America, ranking fifth in KenPom's offensive efficiency. Just like Nebraska, Illinois is all about floor spacing and shooting.
But the Illini are less reliant on shooting. They attempt 3s on 45% of their field goals (connecting on 33%). They also grab offensive rebounds on 37.9% of misses.
Starting four-man David Mirkovic is a menace on the glass. He grabs close to 10 rebounds per game and can also shoot it from deep.
Everyone who plays real minutes for Illinois crashes the glass, even Kylan Boswell, who's just 6-foot-2, but grabs four boards per game.
That's part of why Illinois is so dangerous. It's not just the shooting and the interior scoring, but it's also the second-chance points, which Nebraska gets very few of.
In this matchup, I'm looking at Andrej Stojakovic to dive into his bag of tricks and pull out a classic Marcus Domask performance. Stojakovic is incredible at driving and posting up smaller guards, just like Domask was a few years back.
Nebraska will be in a tough spot in terms of matching up with Stojakovic or freshman phenom Keaton Wagler. Both tower over the smaller Jamarques Lawrence. Wagler and Stojakovic can use their size to their advantage and play Lawrence off the floor, forcing Nebraska to play a bigger, less agile lineup.
Defensively, Illinois is no slouch, ranking 23rd nationally in defensive efficiency.
Boswell is among the best point-of-attack defenders in the sport, making life brutal for opposing guards.
Wagler and Mirkovic have both been instrumental in boosting Illinois defensive outlook. Wagler has the length and athleticism to defend multiple positions, while Mirkovic's imposing 6-9, 250-pound frame is a load to handle.
How To Make Nebraska vs. Illinois Picks
Nebraska is a good team, no doubt.
But playing its first true road game is ripe for a potential lopsided game.
While the Cornhuskers shooting can run a team out of the gym on good nights, they can run themselves out of the gym on bad nights.
That leaves a lot to variance, and I'm backing the more reliable and consistent Illini in Champaign.
Best Bet: Illinois -10 or Better
