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Iowa Hawkeyes vs Nebraska Cornhuskers Picks and Predictions February 17, 2026

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The Border Rivalry reaches a fever pitch this Tuesday as the #9 Nebraska Cornhuskers travel to Iowa City for a high-stakes Big Ten clash at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Nebraska enters with a stellar 22-3 record, but they face a daunting challenge against an Iowa squad that has turned its home court into a fortress, boasting a 14-2 record in Iowa City. With the Hawkeyes opening as slim 1.5-point favorites, oddsmakers are expecting a classic “trap game” for the top-10 Huskers.

The storylines are plentiful for this 9:00 PM ET tip-off on BTN. Most notably, Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort returns to his former home to face a Hawkeyes team led by first-year coach Ben McCollum. While Nebraska looks to solidify a high seed for March, Iowa is fighting to bounce back from a tough loss to Purdue and bolster their own tournament resume.

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Nebraska vs Iowa Odds

Bettors are seeing a very tight market for this matchup, reflecting the difficulty of winning on the road in the Big Ten. For real-time movements, check the latest college basketball odds.

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Nebraska-103+1.5 (-115)O 139.5 (-110)
Iowa-121-1.5 (-108)U 139.5 (-110)

Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Form

Nebraska is currently one of the most balanced teams in the country, but they are particularly lethal from beyond the arc. The Huskers rank 20th nationally in three-pointers made, averaging 11.0 per game. They are coming off a dominant 68-49 win over Northwestern where Pryce Sandfort reminded everyone why he’s an All-American candidate, exploding for 29 points.

The Huskers have been a bettor’s dream as underdogs, going a perfect 4-0 against the spread in that role this season. Their ball movement is elite, ranking 15th in the country with 18.4 assists per game. However, depth could be a factor; keep an eye on the Nebraska injury report regarding Leo Curtis, who is questionable. For a full breakdown of their road efficiency, visit the Nebraska stats and results page.

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Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Form

Iowa might be unranked, but their metrics suggest they belong with the elite. The Hawkeyes rank 17th nationally in field goal percentage (50.1%), a testament to the “Drake-to-Iowa” system brought over by coach Ben McCollum. Bennett Stirtz has been the engine of this offense, recently putting up 19 points against a stout Purdue defense.

The Hawkeyes have been nearly unbeatable as favorites, winning 89.5% of games when the oddsmakers side with them. They play a disciplined style that limits turnovers and focuses on high-percentage looks near the rim. You can track their home-court trends on the Iowa schedule and stats page. Note that Peyton McCollum remains out for the season, so check the Iowa injury report for any further rotation changes.

Nebraska vs Iowa Matchup Breakdown

This game is a fascinating clash of styles. Nebraska wants to spread the floor and launch three-pointers, while Iowa prefers to work the ball inside-out to maintain their high shooting percentage.

  • The Tempo Factor: Both teams have trended toward a slower pace recently. Iowa ranks 430th in adjusted tempo, while Nebraska isn’t much faster at 226th. In a high-stakes rivalry game, expect the half-court sets to be the priority.
  • Series History: Iowa has historically dominated this series in Iowa City, winning 10 of the last 11 meetings at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This “home-court hex” is likely why the unranked Hawkeyes are favored over the #9 Huskers.

For a look at how this result might impact the Big Ten race, visit our college basketball championship odds tracker.

Nebraska vs Iowa Predictions and Best Bets

The lean here is Iowa -1.5. While Nebraska is the higher-ranked team, Carver-Hawkeye Arena is a house of horrors for visiting teams, and the Hawkeyes’ offensive efficiency (50.1% FG) is difficult to disrupt in that environment. Iowa’s ability to control the pace and limit Nebraska’s second-chance points should be the difference.

Regarding the total, the Under 139.5 is the sharp play. Both teams are elite defensively—each allowing 66 points or fewer per game—and their methodical offensive approaches suggest a game that settles in the mid-60s. Our model projects a 70-67 finish in favor of the Hawkeyes.

Best bet: Iowa -1.5.

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Conference play in the Big Ten is where the most seasoned bettors find their edge. Check out today’s college basketball picks for more expert analysis on the Tuesday slate.

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