Michigan vs. Nebraska Odds and Picks
Heading into the year, the Nebraska Cornhuskers were a popular sleeper pick to make the College Football Playoff, and Matt Rhule’s team is off to a 3-0 start. Nebraska now has a legitimate test in Week 4 of the 2025 college football season, as the Michigan Wolverines will be in Lincoln for a huge Big Ten showdown. That said, we’re about to find out a lot about the Cornhuskers. Well, all year, we’re going to be diving into some of the biggest college football games of the season, and this one isn’t any different. With that in mind, keep reading for betting odds and picks for this exciting showdown. Also, make sure you head over to our Week 4 College Football Betting Hub for a look at all of our college football betting content.
MORE: Head to the Pro Picks page for best bets from all of our VSiN hosts and analysts!
How to Watch Michigan vs. Nebraska
Where: Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska
When: Saturday, September 20th at 3:30 pm ET
Channel: CBS
Michigan vs. Nebraska Odds
Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook accurate as of Wednesday, September 17th. Look around for the best prices!
Moneyline: Michigan -135, Nebraska +114
Spread: Michigan -2.5 (-112), Nebraska +2.5 (-108)
Total: Over 45.5 (-112), Under 45.5 (-108)
Michigan vs. Nebraska Analysis
We have all seen what Bryce Underwood can do against bad teams. Last week, the star freshman torched Central Michigan with 235 yards and a touchdown through the air, along with 114 yards and two scores on the ground. The performance prompted Michigan interim head coach Biff Poggi to nickname him “Batman.” But what happened two weeks ago? In a high-profile road game against Oklahoma, Underwood went 9 for 24 for 142 yards. He didn’t throw for a single touchdown in that game, and he also did nothing on the ground. Well, here comes another tough road game.
Nebraska’s defense isn’t quite as good as Brent Venables’ Oklahoma group. The Sooners are Top 5 in the nation in EPA per play allowed; Nebraska is just 43rd (-0.006). However, the Cornhuskers are 15th in Dropback EPA per play allowed (-0.021), so they could very well confuse Underwood. And that’s especially true with crowd noise likely to be a big factor in the game. Also, if you’re worried about Michigan’s running backs having a big day, I’d say it’s unlikely. Nebraska had some trouble stopping the run against Cincinnati earlier in the year, but that’s a better, more experienced offense. Plus, in a true home game, the Huskers will be juiced up and ready to hit some people.
Let’s not forget that Michigan’s offensive line has been a problem. If that’s not patched up, Underwood will be rushed and the running game will suffer.
I’m also not that concerned about the Nebraska offense going up against the Michigan defense. Nebraska is currently 22nd in the country in EPA per play (0.019), and Dylan Raiola has been in full command of this unit. In the win over Cincinnati on August 28th, Raiola completed 33 of his 42 passes for 243 yards with two touchdowns and no picks. It wasn’t always pretty, but he made big throws when the Huskers needed him. And he has since thrown six touchdowns, and he hasn’t yet thrown a pick this year. It doesn’t hurt that Raiola is working with one of the best coordinators in the nation in Dana Holgorsen, who should be able to put together a good plan to attack the Wolverines.
It just feels a little like the wrong team is favored in this game, and the reputations of the two programs are definitely playing a role in that. Michigan won a national title two years ago; Nebraska has struggled to break through. But a good argument can be made that the Cornhuskers are the better coached team, the talent level on the two rosters isn’t all that different and Nebraska will be playing in front of a wild home crowd. Nebraska also has a big win to its name this year. A victory over Cincinnati might not seem like much, but that’s a team with a shot at winning the Big 12.
The Wolverines also happen to be just 1-4 straight-up in road games under Sherrone Moore, and they’re 1-3 SU when facing teams that average 250 or more passing yards per game in that time. Meanwhile, Rhule’s teams are 7-5 both SU and ATS as home underdogs of 7 or less points in his career.
Michigan vs. Nebraska Prediction
Nebraska hasn’t been able to beat ranked teams inside Memorial Stadium, but this feels a little different. For starters, Michigan hasn’t done anything significant to start the year. The team is strictly ranked because of pre-season polls. But this is also a more talented, and experienced, Cornhuskers team than we’re used to seeing, and the group is facing a Wolverines squad that is led by a young quarterback. Add in the fact that Rhule is more proven than Moore as a big-game coach and you’re looking at a trend that could get bucked this week. I’m not even taking the points. Give me the moneyline.
Bet: Nebraska ML (+120 – 1.5 units)
