In a pivotal early Big Ten clash tonight at Pinnacle Bank Arena, the Wisconsin Badgers (7-2, 1-0 Big Ten) face the undefeated No. 23 Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-0, 0-0 Big Ten) as 1.5-point underdogs. While Nebraska's perfect start has earned them a ranking—their first since 2018—their schedule lacks Quad 1 tests, with top wins over Oklahoma and Kansas State falling in Quad 2. Wisconsin, battle-tested with losses only to No. 9 BYU (98-70) and TCU (74-63), brings a surging offense and veteran poise that should keep this game razor-close, primed to cover or potentially beat Nebraska outright on Wednesday night. 

Wisconsin's offense is firing on all cylinders, averaging 87.9 points per game—the highest under coach Greg Gard in his 10 seasons. They've exploded for 96, 85, and 104 points in their last three wins, including a 96-76 rout of in-state rival Marquette on December 6, where junior guard John Blackwell dropped a game-high 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Blackwell leads the Badgers with 21.0 points per game, adding 11 rebounds in their Big Ten opener—a 85-73 win over Northwestern on December 3. Senior guard Nick Boyd complements him with 20.2 points and 3.3 assists, highlighted by a career-high 36 points against Providence on November 27. Forward Nolan Winter anchors the interior with 13.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game, providing balance to the guard-heavy lineup.

This offensive firepower plays perfectly into Nebraska's defensive vulnerabilities. The Cornhuskers rank 335th nationally, allowing 9.9 three-pointers per game at a 30.2% clip—12th-worst in college basketball. Wisconsin, ranking 12th in three-point attempt rate (51.4% of shots), drains 11.3 triples per contest. In their Marquette blowout, the Badgers hit 14 threes at 42% efficiency. Nebraska's reliance on perimeter offense (51.9% of shots from deep, 10th nationally) could backfire if Wisconsin's 12th-ranked defensive rebounding forces contested looks.

Nebraska forward Rienk Mast leads the team with 18.1 points/game and 6.1 rebounds/game, shooting 45.2% from three, while Pryce Sandfort adds 15.8 points/game. They've cruised through wins like 71-50 over Creighton and 72-63 against USC Upstate, but their schedule has been extremely soft up to this point, hence their undefeated record. The Badgers' experience—already notching a conference win—gives them an edge in this first true road test of the season. Wisconsin also dominated the last meeting 83-55 back in January.

Expect a high-scoring affair in this rivalry, but you can bank on Wisconsin's hot shooters and rebounding prowess to exploit Nebraska's soft perimeter defense. The Badgers cover the +1.5 spread on Wednesday; I’m fully expecting them to win outright in this matchup, handing Nebraska their first loss of the season.