Are the Nebraska Cornhuskers cursed?
Just one win away from a bowl game, Nebraska faces tough matchups against the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers and 5-1 Ohio State Buckeyes. After a blowout loss in their first try for win number six, can they rebound and pull off an upset? Check out our Nebraska vs. Ohio State prediction to see our pick.
Nebraska vs. Ohio State Betting Preview
All Nebraska vs. Ohio State odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. The CFN Spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Ohio State -18 - Spread
Ohio State -26 - Moneyline
Ohio State -4000, Nebraska +1600 - Over/Under
48.5 points - Game Time
Noon ET - Location
Ohio Stadium | Columbus, Ohio - Predicted Weather at Kick
55 degrees, cloudy, 8 mph winds - How To Watch
Fox
There hasn’t been a one-score game between these two teams since Nebraska’s loss in Columbus back in 2018. Despite an improved 2024 Cornhuskers squad, both the DraftKings odds and the CFN FPM suggest a lopsided affair this Saturday. Ohio State has dominated the matchup, losing just once to Nebraska in 10 games, and betting circles aren’t showing much faith in Matt Rhule’s team.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
With little value in betting on the Buckeyes’ moneyline unless included in a parlay, can the rest of the Ohio State vs. Nebraska odds offer better opportunities? The Cornhuskers (4-2-1) boast a stronger record against the spread than Ohio State (3-3), though they failed to cover the spread the only other time they were underdogs (against Indiana).
Nebraska’s Winning Probability
According to the CFN FPM, the Cornhuskers have just an 8.5% chance to win the game. This matchup represents Nebraska’s toughest challenge of the rest of the year, and it’s not particularly close.
- at Ohio State: 8.5%
- vs. UCLA: 83.5%
- at USC: 46.2%
- vs. Wisconsin: 53.8%
- at Iowa: 45.7%
If those win probabilities hold true, Nebraska would end the second season under head coach Rhule with an 8-4 record. That would be the best for the program since 2016, and result in a first bowl appearance for the Cornhuskers in eight years.
Ohio State’s Winning Probability
Conversely, the Buckeyes have a 91.5% chance to win the game. This game represents Ohio State’s third-easiest game of the rest of the year, with a huge game at Penn State looming large.
- vs. Nebraska: 91.5%
- at Penn State: 47.5%
- vs. Purdue: 99.5%
- at Northwestern: 95.6%
- vs. Indiana: 75.3%
- vs. Michigan: 90.4%
If those win probabilities were to hold true, Ohio State would end the 2024 season with a 10-2 record which would be considered a disappointment in Columbus. Depending on results around them, it could also see them miss out on the Big Ten Championship Game and impact a potential playoff berth.
Prediction for Nebraska vs. Ohio State
Our Football Playoff Meter is a solid and accurate tool, but it does have one limitation: it can sometimes undervalue the spread in matchups where there’s a significant talent gap between teams.
In this game, it’s clear these programs occupy different levels in college football’s hierarchy. Despite the occasional flash of promise, Nebraska’s offense still ranks among the weakest in the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers have leaned heavily on their strong defense, as their offense has struggled, failing to reach 30 points in any game against Power Four teams and averaging just 20.2 points per contest in those matchups.
Their recent offensive struggles are especially apparent, with Nebraska managing only five touchdowns over their last three games and averaging less than 2.5 yards per carry in each of the last two.
Fortunately for Nebraska, their defense has kept them in games, holding opponents to 10 points or fewer in all five of their wins. Still, Indiana exploited some cracks last week, putting up 56 points and averaging 8.4 yards per play.
Ohio State, meanwhile, has been dominant outside of a narrow road loss to a formidable Oregon team. The Buckeyes have consistently moved the ball, even against top-notch defenses.
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All signs point toward a commanding Ohio State victory, but with a visit to Happy Valley to face Penn State looming, this game might be more about building an early lead and managing the second half.
That’s why I’m backing the Cornhuskers to cover, trusting their defense to keep things close in a steady, low-scoring second half.
Prediction: Ohio State 31, Nebraska 13
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