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Boise State vs. Nebraska Prediction, Odds & Preview Today: Best College Basketball Crown Picks

Mike Spector

Last Updated: April 5, 2025 9:02 AM EDT • 3 min 39 sec read.

Pictured: Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Brice Williams dribbles against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Photo by Dylan Widger via Imagn Images.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers (19-14) and Boise State Broncos (26-10) clash today in a College Basketball Crown semifinal. Tipoff from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is set for 1:30 p.m. ET (FOX).

The Broncos enter as a 1.5-point favorite, and our Boise State vs. Nebraska prediction, odds, and preview explain why backing Leon Rice's program is the best bet.

📈 Boise State vs. Nebraska line movement

Boise State opened as a 1.5-point favorite with the line moving further in the Broncos' direction with most books now offering them at -2 or -2.5. On the other hand, the game total hasn't budged, and it's still sitting at 155.5 at our best sports betting sites.

🏀 Boise State vs. Nebraska prediction & picks today: College Basketball Crown semifinal 

Here are my best Boise State vs. Nebraska predictions for the College Basketball Crown; use our parlay calculator to get the best odds for any same-game parlay:

✅ Against the spread pick: Boise State -1.5 (-115 via ESPN BET) vs. Nebraska ⭐⭐
🔥 Over/Under pick: Under 155.5 (-110 via ESPN BET) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Exact score prediction: Boise State 78, Nebraska 74

👉 Want more picks? Check out our latest college basketball picks and the rest of our March Madness predictions.

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🏆 Best Boise State vs. Nebraska pick & score prediction

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✅ Boise State to cover the spread: -1.5 ⭐⭐

Boise State’s 30-point win in the College Basketball Crown opening round was its 16th double-digit victory of the season. The Broncos recorded 16 steals in that game, tying a program record that has stood for 18 years.

The Broncos bullied George Washington for 51 rim points, which was their second-highest in a game this season. Boise State is coming off a 100-point performance where it averaged a blistering 1.41 points per possession against Butler.

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The Broncos figure to get more resistance from Nebraska, but it is hard to bet against a team that shot better than 70% from inside the arc. 

This is a two-star play, as Boise State was the Mountain West’s best team (and ranks top 10 in the country) in terms of rebounding margin, and that should provide enough of an edge against a Nebraska team that ranked 16th in Big Ten play in offensive rebounding percentage.

📊 Best odds: -115 via ESPN BET ($10 to win $8.70)

🔥 Under pick: 155.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Boise State ranks in the top 35 in scoring defense. And even though it got involved in a track meet and a high-possession game with Butler, I am sure the Broncos would prefer to play more methodically.

This play is contrarian based on all the high-scoring affairs that the College Basketball Crown has produced to this point. 

I am also siding with the Under because of the venue change from MGM Grand Garden Arena to a bigger T-Mobile Arena, which should make it more difficult for shooters.

📊 Best odds: -110 via ESPN BET ($10 to win $9.09)

🎯 Score prediction: Boise State 78, Nebraska 74

Boise State ranks in the top 30 in the country in scoring margin, and its seven neutral site wins this year are a program record. Meanwhile, Nebraska went 1-6 in games decided by four points or fewer. That’s why I’m predicting a final score of Boise State 78, Nebraska 74.

Odds for this final score wager are unavailable, but I expect DraftKings to offer between +15000 and +19000 odds.

📊 Best odds: OFF

🤖 Boise State vs. Nebraska AI prediction

For entertainment purposes, we asked ChatGPT to analyze college basketball stats and trends before predicting the winner and exact score for Boise State vs. Nebraska. Our AI prediction projects a final score of Nebraska 72, Boise State 68.

🖥️ AI score prediction: Nebraska 72, Boise State 68

  • Nebraska’s offensive firepower: Nebraska has been leaning heavily on its high-paced offense. The Cornhuskers’ offensive efficiency is a critical strength.
  • Boise State’s elite defense: While Nebraska’s offense has been electric, Boise State has excelled at shutting down opposing shooters and controlling the tempo.
  • Tournament experience and depth: While Boise State’s defense is a legitimate threat, Nebraska’s dynamic offense and tournament experience make it slight favorites in this close matchup.

🤔 Betting takeaway: ChatGPT's AI prediction would mean Nebraska covering the spread (+1.5) and a total of Under 155.5 points. ChatGPT is not a dedicated sports betting model, but it can identify data that college basketball bettors might overlook.

📊 Live Boise State vs. Nebraska odds

Follow the latest live college basketball odds and real-time college basketball scores.

🔢 Boise State vs. Nebraska opening odds

  • Spread: Boise State -1.5 (-115) | Nebraska +1.5 (-105)
  • Moneyline: Boise State -130 | Nebraska +110
  • Over/Under: Over 155.5 (-110) | Under 155.5 (-110)

📺 How to watch Boise State vs. Nebraska: College Basketball Crown

📅 Date: Saturday, April 5
🕗 Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
📍 Location: T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas)
📺 TV: FOX
💻 Streaming: FOX Sports App

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Written By:
Mike Spector
Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”