Nebraska vs Vanderbilt Prediction and Preview: NCAA Tournament Second Round

Nebraska vs Vanderbilt Game Preview: The Ultimate Three-and-D Game

Nebraska vs Vanderbilt How To Watch

Date: Saturday, March 21
Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Time: 8:45 pm ET
TV: TNT
Streaming: March Madness Live App, Paramount+, HBO Max
Teams: (4) Nebraska 27-6, (5) Vanderbilt 27-8
CFN Spring Football Rankings
Nebraska 42 | Vanderbilt 35
First Round
Nebraska 76, Troy 47
Vanderbilt 78, McNeese State 68

- CFN NCAA Tournament Schedule, Previews

Key Stats

- Nebraska hit 14-of-39 from three in the blowout over Troy.

- Vanderbilt made 51% of its shots from the field in the win over McNeese.

Why Vanderbilt Will Win: The Commodores Can Shoot, Too

To beat Nebraska, you have to be able to get out on the three. The Commodores are decent enough at three point D, going 21-1 when allowing teams to make 35% of their threes or fewer.

Nebraska makes 35.3% of their threes.

Also, you have to match the Husker energy, and you have to keep driving to the basket and get to the line. Nebraska doesn’t shoot free throws - it’s too busy cranking up outside shots.

Vanderbilt is fourth in the nation and No. 1 in the SEC, hitting 79% of its free throws.

Why Nebraska Will Win: The Huskers Deserve the Black Shirts

Nebraska football was always known for its offense, but when the program was humming, the defense did its job, too. Back in the 1960s, the Husker D became known as the Blackshirts.

Nebraska basketball this season gets the press for the flash and firepower of the offense, but the defense has been every bit as strong.

It allowed teams to make just 40% of their shots and finished No. 1 in the Big Ten in scoring D, allowing just 65.6 points per game.

Vanderbilt is 4-4 on the season when it makes fewer than 42% of its shots, and is 4-6 when scoring 80 points or fewer. Nebraska only allowed more than 80 points twice all season, and both times were way back in mid-November.

Nebraska vs Vanderbilt Prediction, Betting Lines

Both teams score a ton, both get after it on defense, and overall, they’re about as evenly matched as any two teams in the second round.

But who’s going to misfire?

Vanderbilt can’t beat Nebraska unless it keeps the Big Red offense to the low 40% mark or under - like Purdue and UCLA did in early March wins - but that’s not happening. The Huskers keep the fun going.

Prediction: Nebraska 76, Vanderbilt 73
Consensus Line: Vanderbilt -1.5, o/u: 146.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Consensus Line from BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.