The Penn State Nittany Lions will try to cover the spread at Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday when they get a visit from the Nebraska Cornhuskers in NCAA basketball action.

This season, the Nittany Lions are 8-9 overall and 6-7 ATS ATS, while the Cornhuskers are 9-9 and 8-8 ATS against the number. As for the totals, Penn State boasts a 6-6 on the OU, and Nebraska is 7-7.



View Nebraska vs Penn State Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The Nittany Lions were listed as 3.5-point favorites at most sportsbooks tracked by Odds Shark earlier in the day. It opened first at Sportsbook, where the total was expected shortly.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
This game puts the Nittany Lions, most recently No. 239 in the Odds Shark power rankings, up against the Cornhuskers, who rate No. 180 in the latest survey. Meanwhile, math and computer-based handicapping simulations run on this game predict a potential 59-57 victory for the Cornhuskers.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Penn State's No. 289-ranked offense, averaging 62.1 PPG, against a Cornhuskers defense that ranks No. 64 at 61.2 PPG. The Nittany Lions field goal percentage has averaged 39.3% so far, less than the Cornhuskers marksmen have achieved on the year, 41.1% per game.

Defensively, Nebraska features the nation's No. 80-rated defense on the road, allowing 64.8 points per game. Penn State, meanwhile, comes in at No. 287 nationally in scoring at home.

Nebraska lost its last outing, a 65-56 result against Purdue on January 16. They failed to cover in that game as a 2-point underdog. Nebraska got 18 points from Shavon Shields but lost anyway, 65-56, to Purdue on Wednesday at Bob Devaney Sports Center.

In their last action, Penn State was an 81-72 loser at home against Michigan State. They covered the 10.5-point spread as underdogs. Jermaine Marshall scored 29 points and chipped in with 10 rebounds for a double-double, but his team still lost 81-72 against Michigan State in college basketball action at Bryce Jordan Center.


Nebraska Cornhuskers Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing Illinois are 0-2
After playing Purdue are 0-1
After a loss are 3-7

Penn State Nittany Lions Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5
Before playing Indiana are 3-7
After playing Michigan State are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6

A few Cornhuskers at Nittany Lions trends to consider:
Nebraska is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games on the road
Nebraska is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Penn State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games


Next up:
Nebraska home to Illinois, Tuesday, January 22
Penn State at Indiana, Wednesday, January 23