Nebraska will put the nation’s longest win streak on the line when it welcomes Michigan State to town.
Dating back to last season, the 13-0 Cornhuskers have now won 17 games straight. Sparty has had a strong start to its season in its own right, with three ranked wins and its lone loss coming to then-No. 4 Duke. This one certainly has the makings of an entertaining affair.
I break it all down in my Michigan State vs. Nebraska predictions & college basketball picks for Friday, January 2.
Michigan State vs Nebraska prediction
Michigan State vs Nebraska best bet: Nebraska -2 (-110)
I’m not sure any team in college basketball overachieved more at the start of the season more than the Michigan State Spartans.
Their defense was always going to regress some which left you wondering what things would look like once that happened and a team that’s full of largely non-shooters still couldn’t shoot.
We’ve seen that some over the last few games and that, coupled with their road struggles, is why I’ll take the Nebraska Cornhuskers tonight as my best bet.
Michigan State’s November profile (UNC win, Iowa blowout, near-miss vs Duke) showed what this team looks like when its defense is dictating and the turnover margin is clean.
But the stretch since Duke is a real signal to account for: 97 allowed to Cornell, trouble separating from Oakland, and even the Penn State game — their first true road spot — turning into a late-game grinder. That’s not a good Penn State team either.
If MSU’s defense has slid from “elite” to merely “good,” and they’re turning it over more while forcing fewer, that matters a lot because this roster isn’t built to bail itself out with one or two unstoppable scorers. In other words, the margin for them is significantly smaller than other ranked teams.
Nebraska can generate offense in multiple, repeatable ways: they have real shot-making on the perimeter, plus a steadier halfcourt hub (compared to the other side) in Rienk Mast to keep possessions organized.
I think the Huskers big cut and roll actions can give Sparty issues too. Nebraska has been elite in such categories scoring 1.31 points per possession on such sets while seeing a defense that has allowed .92.
If the recent defensive/turnover trend is even partially real for Michigan State, this is the exact kind of road environment where it gets punished.
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Michigan State vs Nebraska same-game parlay
I see some sneaky value on the low number of Jamarques Lawerence to drop at least four dimes. He’s cleared this number in back-to-back conference games and will benefit from Michigan State’s slow-footed bigs issues defending cuts to the basket.
Directly correlated to this is Rienk Mast having a big game, so it’s the second part of this same-game parlay. Not only is he the primary scoring on those cuts to the basket, he’s also had some of his biggest scoring games when Lawrence assist numbers are at their highest.
In those last two conference games, for example, where Lawerence had six and seven assists, Mast chipped in 17 points both times.
Michigan State vs Nebraska SGP
- Nebraska -2
- Jamarques Lawrence Over 3.5 assists
- Rienk Mast Over 15.5 points
Our beyond the arc SGP: Carr drives in the points
I projected 145.5, so an Over 143.5 feels like a neutral fit in this same-game parlay where I see clearing scoring routes for both teams.
Coen Carr Over 12.5 points fits too because Nebraska has had issues defending perimeter cutters, and that’s the exact type of off-ball spacing and quick-hitter action that can turn into easy layups or rhythm looks.
Michigan State vs Nebraska SGP
- Nebraska -2
- Jamarques Lawrence Over 3.5 assists
- Rienk Mast Over 15.5 points
- Coen Carr Over 12.5 points
- Over 143.5 points
Michigan State vs Nebraska odds
- Spread: Michigan State +2 (-110) | Nebraska -2 (-110)
- Moneyline: Michigan State +115 | Nebraska -135
- Over/Under: Over 144.5 (-115) | Under 144.5 (-105)
Michigan State vs Nebraska betting trend to know
Nebraska has hit the 1H Game Total Under in 22 of their last 35 games (+7.15 Units / 18% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for Michigan State vs. Nebraska.
How to watch Michigan State vs Nebraska
| Location | Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE |
| Date | Friday, January 2, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Peacock |
Michigan State vs Nebraska key injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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