Nebraska vs. Illinois: How to watch, odds, picks, final score predictions from ESPN, KenPom

Tuesday night, Nebraska will look to halt its three-game losing streak when it heads to Illinois, which has won six of its last seven games. Ahead of the game, predictions and betting odds — including KenPom analytics — are rolling in.

How to watch Nebraska vs. Illinois

Tip-off: 7 p.m. ET

Location: Champaign-Urbana, Illinois

Channel: Big Ten Network

Vegas odds

Illinois is a 14.5-point favorite over Nebraska on Thursday, according to VegasInsider. The over-under is set at 136.5 points.

ESPN BPI prediction

Predicted winner: Illinois

Predicted point differential: 15.5

Win probability (for Illinois): 91.6

Matchup quality: 66.5

ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a tool that measures team strength and uses that to predict outcomes of future performances. ESPN’s BPI has Illinois vs. Nebraska ranked as the 14th highest-rated game on Thursday’s slate in terms of matchup quality.

KenPom prediction

Predicted final score: Illinois 73, Nebraska 61

Win probability (for Illinois): 85%

KenPom is another tool that provides advanced analysis across college basketball. Like ESPN, KenPom projects the Fighting Illini to come away with a victory over the Cornhuskers.

Fred Hoiberg reaffirms confidence in Nebraska after loss

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have now lost five of their last six games and sit with a 3-8 Big Ten record. But coach Fred Hoiberg reaffirmed his confidence in Nebraska all the same.

Hoiberg didn’t leave much room for ambiguity, either. He’s a big fan of the group he has to work with, even if the results have been lacking.

“I’m really confident in our guys,” Hoiberg said after the Cornhuskers’ loss to Northwestern. “I’m going to stay confident in our guys. I love this group of players. I’ve said all along it’s one of the more fun groups I’ve had to coach and they’re going to bounce back tomorrow and we’ll have a good practice and get ready for Maryland.”