Skip to main content

Nebraska vs. UCF Prediction, Odds & Preview: Best College Basketball Crown Picks Tonight

Mike Spector

Last Updated: April 6, 2025 1:52 PM EDT • 3 min 57 sec read.

Nebraska vs. UCF Prediction Tonight
Pictured: Nebraska's Brice Williams passes against Minnesota. Photo by Steven Branscombe via Imagn Images.

Nebraska (20-14) and UCF (20-16) square off Sunday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with the inaugural College Basketball Crown championship -  and a hefty NIL prize pool - on the line. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

The Cornhuskers are 3.5-point betting favorites, and our Nebraska vs. UCF prediction, odds, and preview back them to lift the trophy. Nebraska has looked like the most complete and consistent team in the field, and we expect that to carry them to the title.

📈 Nebraska vs. UCF line movement

Nebraska opened as a 3.5-point favorite at our best sports betting sites, with the line seeing minimal movement as tip approaches, though some books are offering the Cornhuskers -4. The game total, which opened at 157.5, is now up to 158.5.

🏀 Nebraska vs. UCF prediction & picks tonight: College Basketball Crown

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

✅ Against the spread pick: Nebraska -3.5 (-112 via DraftKings) vs. UCF ⭐⭐⭐
🔥 Over/Under pick: Over 157.5 (-115 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Exact score prediction: Nebraska 86, UCF 80 (+17000 via DraftKings)

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

Sbr Ncaab Final Weekend Challenge Lobby

🏆 Best Nebraska vs. UCF pick & score prediction

Our NEW college basketball player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds for any March Madness market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

✅ Nebraska to cover the spread: -3.5 ⭐⭐⭐

Nebraska has won its three CBC games by an average of 10 points, and its last victory (79-69 over Boise State) was arguably its most impressive. The Broncos had averaged 94.5 points per game through the first two rounds, but the Cornhuskers held them to 69 points and 44.4% shooting from 2-point range.

Embed content mNkvkDS1yAM image

Nebraska has been a streaky team all season. It started 6-0, then went 0-6, and followed that with stretches of 5-1 and 0-5 basketball. However, it has now won its last three, and Fred Hoiberg’s dribble-handoff and off-ball cutting actions have proven difficult to prepare for on short rest.

This line is shorter given that UCF eked out an overtime victory against Villanova, but the Knights needed a late 3-pointer in regulation to even send the game to an extra period. 

Nebraska has already shut down a few high-powered offenses in this run, and are the rightful favorites to close out the season on a high note.

📊 Best odds: -112 via DraftKings ($10 to win $8.93)

Fan-Favorite Betting App
Play Now
Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission. 19+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.

🔥 Over/Under pick: Over 157.5 ⭐⭐⭐

Nebraska figured to pose several schematic issues for a Boise State team that loved to post up and score on the interior, since the Cornhuskers entered the game allowing just a 1st percentile post rate and 3rd percentile overall rim rate.

However, UCF will look to push much more in transition and is a heavy isolation-based offense in the half-court. The Knights exposed Villanova’s sagging defense by going 15-for-35 on 3-point attempts, and their ability to control tempo against the Wildcats bodes well for another high-scoring game.

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

Same Game Parlays
Play Now
Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission. 19+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.

🎯 Score prediction: Nebraska 86, UCF 80

Nebraska is 10-4 ATS in non-conference games, and has covered all six of its games at neutral sites. Even though the Cornhuskers are 1-6 SU in games decided by four or fewer points, they have won each of their CBC games by eight-plus. That’s why I’m predicting a final score of Nebraska 86, UCF 80.

📊 Best odds: +17000 via DraftKings ($10 to win $171)

🤖 Nebraska vs. UCF AI prediction

For entertainment purposes, we asked ChatGPT to analyze college basketball stats and trends before predicting the winner and exact score for Nebraska vs. UCF. Our AI prediction projects a final score of Nebraska 86, UCF 80.

🖥️ AI score prediction: Nebraska 74, UCF 69

  • Nebraska’s offensive firepower: The Cornhuskers have shown a potent offense in recent weeks
  • Tourney experience vs. momentum: Nebraska enters this game on a hot streak, while UCF has been more inconsistent
  • Nebraska's offensive tempo and momentum give it the edge, but UCF’s defense keeps it in the game, making for a close contest

🤔 Betting takeaway: ChatGPT's AI prediction would mean Nebraska covering the spread (-3.5) and a total of Under 157.5 points. ChatGPT is not a dedicated sports betting model, but it can identify data that college basketball bettors might overlook.

📊 Live Nebraska vs. UCF odds

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

🔢 Nebraska vs. UCF opening odds

  • Spread: Nebraska -3.5 (-120) | UCF +3.5 (+100)
  • Moneyline: Nebraska -175 | UCF +150
  • Over/Under: Over 157.5 (-110) | Under 157.5 (-110)

📺 How to watch Nebraska vs. UCF: College Basketball Crown

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

💰 March Madness betting odds pages

March Madness oddsMarch Madness MVP odds
Women's March Madness oddsMarch Madness MVP predictions
Final Four oddsMarch Madness prop bets

👑 Best March Madness betting sites

Ready to place your March Madness bets? Check out the best March Madness betting promos from the best March Madness betting sites as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review.

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission

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.”