Nebraska vs Iowa Prediction, Picks & Odds | 26 Mar 2026

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Betting Preview: Nebraska vs Iowa

Big Ten rivals the No. 9 Nebraska Cornhuskers and the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes meet in this NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 South Region matchup at the Toyota Center in Houston, with tip-off scheduled for 19:30 on Thursday, March 26.

Let’s go for Over 131.5 when Nebraska face Iowa. We think the line is too generous and we’re expecting the final total to be higher at odds of -110.

The Iowa Hawkeyes (23-12, 9th in Big Ten) edged the Florida Gators 73-72 in a Second Round nail-biter after taking care of the Clemson Tigers in their tournament opener.

Iowa have found their rhythm behind a high-powered offense and gritty perimeter defense. Senior leader Payton Sandfort remains the engine of the Hawkeyes' attack, providing the veteran composure needed. Alongside him, the emergence of Josh Dix as a reliable secondary scorer has been vital, helping the Hawkeyes navigate their deepest tournament run in over 25 years.

After waiting 87 years for its first NCAA Tournament win, the Nebraska Cornhuskers (28-6, 2nd in Big Ten) are making up for lost time. Following a dominant First Round rout of the Troy Trojans, the Huskers punched their first-ever ticket to the Sweet 16 by outlasting the Vanderbilt Commodores 74–72 in a Saturday night thriller.

Nebraska have redefined their program through elite rim protection and opportunistic scoring. Freshman standout Braden Frager has emerged as the tournament's breakout star, following up a strong regular season with the game-winning layup to sink the Commodores.

Head-to-Head Statistics

Nebraska and Iowa split their two head-to-head meetings this season, with the home team winning each time. While Nebraska won the most recent matchup with an 84–75 overtime victory on March 8, Iowa took the earlier contest 57–52 on February 17. Despite the recent split, the Hawkeyes have controlled the series long-term, winning seven of the last 10 meetings.

NCAAB Regular Season	Overall	PF	PA	N. Pts	Home	Away	Strk
Nebraska	26-6	2473	2119	354	19-3	7-3	1L
Iowa	21-12	2482	2177	305	17-3	4-9	1L

View Full Standings

Nebraska vs Iowa Prediction & Picks

Step into Nebraska vs Iowa with confidence, armed with our expert match prediction, likely scoreline, key player prop plays and a custom-built bet builder for maximum value.

Game Prediction

The total line looks to be on the low side at 131.5. There’s a strong chance that the college rivals will conspire to go above the line and we’re backing Over at -110.

We’re always on top of team news and when combined with recent form, it helps us uncover the best value. Our college basketball handicappers also take a data-led approach, using key stats to back every pick.

Key Nebraska vs Iowa stats:

• The 131.5 line has been covered in 16 of the last 20 Nebraska games.
• The 131.5 line has been covered in 6 of the last 10 Nebraska games.
• The 131.5 line has been covered in 4 of the last 5 Iowa games.
• The 131.5 line has been covered in 15 of the last 20 Iowa games.

Over 131.5 Probability

The top betting apps imply that our pick has a 52.4% prospect of delivering a return. However, we think that the probability is close to 60% taking all factors into consideration. The wager can be recommended for this precise reason.

If you’re confident with your Over pick but want more juice from your wager, then a Bet Builder can offer the chance to add in other selections for a bigger potential return.

Get more from your bets with our detailed guide, featuring the best free bets and generous welcome bonuses.

Our Game Prediction

Over 131.5 Points @ -110 Bet Now

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Disclosure: This preview contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. T&Cs apply. We only recommend licensed and regulated operators. See our Editorial Policy. Pick odds and lines reflect the price available at the time of publication (Mar 26, 00:03). Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Player Prop Picks

Top Pick: Braden Frager Over 9.5 Points -132

Braden Frager (Nebraska) can be wagered to rack up Over 9.5 points at -132. We’ll place a bet that he is able to cover an appealing total for this Player Points wager.

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Rienk Mast Under 5.5 Rebounds -114

Rienk Mast (Nebraska) is available at -114 to rack up Under 5.5 rebounds. Let’s shoot for a relatively low total and take him to go under the Player Rebounds line.

Latest Rienk Mast Player Prop Odds

Points

Over 12.5

-108

Under 12.5

-120

Rebounds

Over 5.5

-114

Under 5.5

-114

Pick odds and lines correct at publication. Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. T&Cs apply. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Correct Score Prediction

Nebraska 70 - 65 Iowa

You don’t need a big stake to enjoy a huge payout by getting this correct score right. We’re going for the Huskers to achieve a 70-65 victory and hopefully this goes close.

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Nebraska vs Iowa Odds

The odds and lines below are updated regularly and may differ from the prices shown in our picks, which are captured at the time of publication.

There are betting odds of +108 about Iowa winning, with Nebraska currently available at -130. There is a 48% chance of the hosts winning according to the top sportsbooks.

There is a spread of 1.5 and total points has a line of 131.5. Basketball fans regularly enjoy the opportunity to bet on the Totals. If you’re wanting to back Over 131.5, the odds are -110.

If you’re planning to place a bet on a college basketball contest, visit the best sportsbooks and check out the wide range of team props and game lines. Find the lines which are the most attractive.

Moneyline

Nebraska

-130

Iowa

+108

Point Spread

Nebraska -1.5

-110

Iowa +1.5

-110

Total Points

Under 131.5

-110

Over 131.5

-110

Bennett Stirtz is favorite when it comes to hitting the most buckets. You can get -100 that he goes Over 19.5 points and -130 when it comes to Under.

Bennett Stirtz (Iowa)

Over 19.5

-100

Under 19.5

-130

Pryce Sandfort (Nebraska)

Over 16.5

+105

Under 16.5

-135

Rienk Mast (Nebraska)

Over 12.5

-108

Under 12.5

-120

Cooper Koch (Iowa)

Over 10.5

+105

Under 10.5

-135

Braden Frager (Nebraska)

Over 9.5

-132

Under 9.5

+102

Tavion Banks (Iowa)

Over 9.5

-111

Under 9.5

-116

Jamarques Lawrence (Nebraska)

Over 8.5

-120

Under 8.5

-108

Alvaro Folgueiras (Iowa)

Over 8.5

-114

Under 8.5

-114

Sam Hoiberg (Nebraska)

Over 8.5

-108

Under 8.5

-120

Kael Combs (Iowa)

Over 6.5

-127

Under 6.5

-102

Sam Hoiberg (Nebraska)

Over 4.5

+120

Under 4.5

-156

Tavion Banks (Iowa)

Over 5.5

-137

Under 5.5

+106

Rienk Mast (Nebraska)

Over 5.5

-114

Under 5.5

-114

Sam Hoiberg (Nebraska)

Over 5.5

+128

Under 5.5

-167

Pryce Sandfort (Nebraska)

Over 4.5

-135

Under 4.5

+105

Latest regular season and playoff games stats.

Nebraska Stats

Iowa Stats

Moneyline

• 7 wins and 3 defeats in the last 10 games

Moneyline

• 5 wins and 5 defeats in the last 10 games

Point Spread

• -1.5 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 7 of the last 10 games

Point Spread

• +1.5 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 5 of the last 10 games

Total Points

• Game Totals: An average of 134.50 pts in the previous 10 games
• Over 131.5: Covered in 6 of the previous 10 games
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 70.70 pts and allowed 63.80 pts in the last 10 games

Total Points

• Game Totals: An average of 138.60 pts in the previous 10 games
• Over 131.5: Covered in 7 of the previous 10 games
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 69.80 pts and allowed 68.80 pts in the last 10 games

NCAAB Regular Season Table Select Season 2025/20262024/20252023/20242022/20232021/20222020/20212019/2020

Big Ten	Overall	PF	PA	N. Pts	Home	Away	Strk
Michigan	31-3	2952	2353	599	19-2	12-1	1L
Nebraska	26-6	2473	2119	354	19-3	7-3	1L
Michigan State	25-7	2526	2189	337	17-3	8-4	2L
Purdue	27-8	2858	2455	403	16-5	11-3	4W
Illinois	24-8	2700	2234	466	15-6	9-2	1L
Wisconsin	24-10	2822	2581	241	16-2	8-8	1L
UCLA	23-11	2643	2414	229	18-3	5-8	1L
Ohio State	21-12	2633	2402	231	15-5	6-7	1L
Iowa	21-12	2482	2177	305	17-3	4-9	1L
Indiana	18-14	2501	2309	192	15-6	3-8	2L
USC	18-14	2515	2494	21	11-7	7-7	8L
Washington	16-17	2545	2430	115	11-6	5-11	1L
Minnesota	15-17	2241	2193	48	13-8	2-9	1L
Northwestern	15-19	2487	2447	40	11-9	4-10	1L
Rutgers	14-19	2329	2479	-150	11-7	3-12	1L
Oregon	12-20	2267	2366	-99	10-10	2-10	1L
Penn State	12-20	2358	2539	-181	10-10	2-10	3L
Maryland	12-21	2300	2527	-227	9-8	3-13	1L

• Overall = Overall Wins-Losses
• PF = Total Points For
• PA = Total Points Against
• N. Pts = Point Differential
• Home = Home Record
• Away = Away Record
• Strk = Current Streak

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