The Nebraska Cornhuskers will look to end their three-game skid on Tuesday evening when they host the Queens Royals. Continue reading below to get our best Quens University vs Nebraska Betting Analysis and much more
The Huskers are just 6-6 on the season and have lost three straight to power six conference opponents, including two Big Ten Conference foes.
Fred Hoiberg’s club had an excellent opportunity against the current top-ranked team in the nation, Purdue, on December 10th, leading the Purdue Boilermakers with under two minutes in overtime but were unable to deliver the victory.
Junior guard Kelsei Tominaga led Nebraska with 18 points, but the team could not overcome a 9-32 shooting performance from beyond the three-point line.
Grant Leonard leads the Queens Royals in their inaugural season and has experienced a nice level of success early in the season.
The Royals are currently 9-2 on the campaign, with victories over two good teams in Marshall and High Point. The Royals have not lost a game since November 26th and are currently streaking themselves, having won four consecutive games.
Team Records
- Nebraska Cornhuskers 6-6 (0-2 Big Ten)
- Queens Royals 9-2 (0-0 Atlantic Sun)
Matchup Information
As this is Queen’s first season as a division one school, there is no matchup history to speak of.
Queens Royals vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Analysis
Nebraska is currently the fourth-worst team in the Big Ten against the spread at 5-7 on the season.
They outperform the anticipated margin on the season by +1.7 points per contest, but their margin of victory is also just 1.7.
Despite their poor performance overall, Hoiberg’s club has been good ATS lately, covering the number in four of their last six games.
They have also been consistent against the total, going under in nine of their twelve games thus far.
Queens, on the other hand, has been fantastic against the number this season. Despite having played three non-division schools which would suggest an underperforming group, the Royals lead the Atlantic Sun conference with a 7-1 mark against the spread.
Their performance against the anticipated margin of +5.1 points is second in the conference, as does their 11.2-point margin of victory.
Queens Royals
The Royals are led by senior guard Kenny Dye, averaging 17.5 points per game and shooting just a shade under 39% from three-point range.
The 6’0 guard currently leads the Atlantic Sun in total assists and free throw attempts. His 50.4% field goal percentage currently ranks third in the conference, which is incredible for his size and position.
Coach Leonard has a deep roster and is not bashful in deploying his assets. The Royals boast eight players that log at least 13.5 minutes per game and 11 players that average at least seven though Trey Hubbard has only appeared in four games this season.
Nine players on this roster average at least five points per game, and four put at least 9.5 on the board each contest.
The Royals have been stunningly successful this season in spite of a fairly terrible defense. Queens ranks just 292nd in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency and 336th in defensive turnover percentage.
They are -34 in turnover margin on the season but are also a top 70 team in the nation in offensive turnovers per game.
Queens hits the offensive glass hard, ranking 16th in the country in offensive rebounding percentage, and they use that ability to get to the line often.
The Royals have made more free throws on the season than their opponents have attempted and are shooting a respectable 71% from the stripe.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg could find himself on the hot seat if he is not able to turn this oil tanker around quickly.
Now in his fourth season, Hoiberg has yet to lead the program to more than ten victories in a campaign though he has increased his conference victories each of his previous two seasons. Unfortunately, the number of wins in the Big Ten has only been two, three, and four.
The Huskers are led by Derrick Walker’s 14.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Last season’s Big Ten field goal percentage leader is again one of the more efficient players in the conference, shooting nearly 66% from the field but only 59% from the stripe.
Tominaga ranks second on the team in scoring 10.9 points per contest this season. The junior guard is shooting 39% from deep this season and has shown a flair for the dramatic as he hit some huge shots to force overtime against Purdue last week.
Much like the Royals, Nebraska boasts a deep bench and isn’t scared to use it. Ten players on this roster average at least eight minutes per game, and eight play at least 11.8 or more. Six Huskers average at least nine points per contest, while four average at least five rebounds.
NCAAB Injury Report
There are no major NCAAB injuries to discuss on the Nebraska side, but Gavin Rains missed Queen’s last game while battling the flu.
Currently thought to be questionable for Tuesday’s game, Rains is an important player for the Royals, averaging 7.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
Queens vs. Nebraska Betting Preview
This game appears to be a pretty straightforward bet, given the metrics and trends.
However, it is difficult to wrap your head around the fact that Queens is this successful in just their first season as a division one school.
One of the metrics always stands out is the offensive glass; rebounding is largely driven by desire, and this matchup’s metrics stand out. Nebraska is just 171st in the nation in opponents offensive rebounding percentage, while Royal’s offense is ranked within the top 20.
Queens also shoots the ball at a decent clip from deep at nearly 34%, while Nebraska is one of the worst in Division One at just 30%.
Queens vs. Nebraska Betting Prediction
Despite what the numbers suggest, Nebraska (-10) is a number that a team that took Purdue to overtime should cover.
That said, the Huskers failed to cover the number against both Maine and Omaha this season on their home court earlier this season.
This game is worth having some fun with by taking the Royals to cover. If it hits, it will definitely be something to boast about on social media.
NCAAB Pick: Nebraska -13 (-110)
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