LINCOLN, Neb. -- Indiana is 10 games into its 2024-25 basketball season already, but they have their first true road test on Friday when they take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers. It's a big game for the Hoosiers (8-2, 1-0 in Big Ten), who still don't really have a statement win this season.
Nebraska is 6-2 and 0-1 in the league, losing badly at Michigan State. They are unranked and check in at No. 62 in the Kenpom.com rankings -- the Hoosiers are No. 40 -- so an Indiana victory may not be something you'd shout from the rooftops, but considering the recent history in this rivalry and the fact that it's a Big Ten road game, it would be a big deal.
Nebraska won all three games a year ago, and embarrassed Indiana each time, winning by 16, 15 and 27 points. That probably has a lot to do why the Huskers are favored again. According to the oddsmakers at the FanDuel.com gambling website, Nebraska is a 4.5-point favorite. The over/under is 152.5.
The line is a little surprising considering that Nebraska is just 1-4 vs. the spread in home games this season. They looked good in an upset of No. 14 Creighton and a blowout win over a decent North Florida team, but then looked awful in a loss to Michigan State.
In other words, this is not the same Nebraska team what won 23 games a year ago. And even though the Hoosiers looked bad on their first trip out of town -- those blowout losses to Louisiville and Gonzaga were ugly -- there's some home that they've learned from that in preparing for this first road game.
Here's what we know so far about how Indiana and Nebraska have fared against the point spread.
Nebraska is 6-2 on the season and 0-1 in Big Ten games, losing by 37 on the road at Michigan State last Saturday. They are 5-0 at home, but have covered in just one of the five games, the most recent one on Dec. 1 against North Florida.