Rosales’ prediction: Offenses pile on the points in Lincoln.
Feb 1, 2026 • 07:00 ET
• 4 min read
Photo By – Reuters Connect. Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Jamarques Lawrence (10).
Get ready for a battle of top ranked teams as the No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini visit the No. 5 Nebraska Cornhuskers this afternoon.
These teams showed the kind of game we can expect back on Dec. 13, which is why my Illinois vs. Nebraska predictions ultimately point to the Over.
Find out more in my college basketball picks for Sunday, February 1.
Illinois vs Nebraska prediction
Illinois vs Nebraska best bet: Over 150.5 (-115)
llinois has rattled off 10 straight wins and is playing the best basketball of the season heading into this conference rematch. The Fighting Illini currently rank first in KenPom’s offensive efficiency and second in Big Ten scoring at 85.0 points per game, trailing only Michigan.
Meanwhile, Nebraska enters this matchup off its first loss of the season, but led by sharpshooter Jamarques Lawrence, the Cornhuskers sit 15th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage.
Nebraska stayed competitive despite missing two of their top three scorers — Rienk Mast (flu) and Braden Frager (ankle) — both of whom are expected to be available today. Their return will boost Nebraska’s high-powered offense, which averages 80.5 points per game.
The last four meetings between these programs have all produced at least 154 combined points, with three surpassing the Over.
Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account
Illinois vs Nebraska same-game parlay
Pryce Sandfort scored 20 points against Michigan and has reached that mark in five straight games. He also dropped a career-high 32 on these same Illini back in December.
Keaton Wagler exceeded 21.5 points only five times in 13 January games, and he posted 19 points in the first matchup with Nebraska.
Illinois vs Nebraska SGP
- Over 150.5
- Pryce Sandfort Over 18.5 points
- Keaton Wagler Under 21.5 points
Our beyond the arc SGP: Deadeye from Downtown
With four single-digit scoring games in his last five, Andrej Stojakovic is a prime buy-low option ahead of tip-off. Nebraska could be the team to help him snap out of his slump, as Stojakovic dropped 19 points on them in their previous matchup.
Jamarques Lawrence made four 3-pointers against Michigan and has hit at least two from deep in three of his last four contests.
Illinois vs Nebraska SGP
- Over 150.5
- Pryce Sandfort Over 18.5 points
- Keaton Wagler Under 21.5 points
- Andre Stojakovic Over 15.5 points
- Jamarques Lawrence Over 1.5 threes
Illinois vs Nebraska odds
- Spread: Illinois +2.5 (-110) | Nebraska -2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Illinois +120 | Nebraska -140
- Over/Under: Over 150.5 (-110) | Under 150.5 (-110)
Illinois vs Nebraska betting trend to know
The Cornhuskers have won 12 straight games at home. Find more college basketball betting trends for Illinois vs. Nebraska.
How to watch Illinois vs Nebraska
Location
Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE
Date
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Tip-off
4:00 p.m. ET
TV
FS1
Illinois vs Nebraska key injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Pages related to this topic
Eric has been involved in sports media in many different capacities since graduating from journalism school in 1999, back when getting your own column in a newspaper was still considered a thing. He doubled down and graduated from broadcast journalism school five years later, which led to a move to Toronto and a career with The Sports Network (TSN). From behind-the-scenes production work, he moved into the digital realm, where he had his own hoops column (At the Buzzer), while regularly live streaming and chatting with fans during broadcasts as the character known as LeBlog James. He was also a key contributor to TSN and CTV’s Olympic programming during the 2012 London Games.
Eric eventually found his way into the sports betting field in 2016 and has been a mainstay ever since. He was tagged on Twitter as a Top 10 NBA sharp during the 2021 season and has been interviewed about basketball and his handicapping process on shows from Vancouver to India. Eric is now a jack-of-all-sports at Covers, where his predictions span the alphabet soup: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, F1, WNBA, Euro, and Copa.
When making picks, he focuses on finding value first and foremost, and ensuring readers have all the information they need to make an informed choice.
Read More
