Nebraska ML over Illinois
A top 10 matchup in the Big Ten features #9 Illinois visiting #5 Nebraska in what will be a revenge spot for the Illini. Earlier this season, back on December 13th, Nebraska went into Champagne and upset Illinois 83-80 on a Jamarques Lawrence Buzzer Beater. That game closed with Illinois as the 9.5. Fast forward to this afternoon and Nebraska at home is a 1.5 point favorite. Rather than lay the small line, I'll take a stab on the Huskers on the money line price of -120.
Clearly there has been a power rating shift since that last meeting. Despite the fact that Illinois has not lost a game since, and improved their record to 18-3, Nebraska has risen more in the eyes of the market after continuing their dominance. That is, until their last game where the Huskers came up short at Michigan, suffering their first loss of the season 75-72. I looked this up in our database, how do 20+ win teams who suffer their first loss of the season, do in the next game? The answer? Dominate! Going back to 2008, when you have a 20+ win undefeated team that suffers their first loss, they've bounced back in their very next game to go 9-1 SU. 6-0 if that game is at home. It's a strong trend showing that despite the loss, these dominant teams show the ability to bounce back quickly and regain their winning form. Let's go back to the well and hope for another bounce back.
🎯 PLAY: Nebraska Moneyline (-120) over Illinois