Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Iowa Hawkeyes Picks and Predictions March 9th 2025

Iowa, Nebraska Out to Boost Conference Tourney Positions

The Big Ten regular season wraps up on Sunday, and for Iowa and Nebraska, their matchup in Lincoln will determine critical seeding for the upcoming conference tournament.

Both teams enter the contest on losing streaks, but with the conference standings tightly packed, a win could make a significant difference in their postseason fate.

Explore comprehensive insights and odds predictions for the John Wooden Award, detailing top contenders and emerging trends.

Nebraska Looks to Snap Losing Streak, Improve Seeding

The Cornhuskers (17-13, 7-12 Big Ten) have lost four straight games, including three consecutive one-possession losses.

Their latest heartbreak came in a 116-114 double-overtime defeat at Ohio State on Tuesday, which dropped Nebraska into a five-way tie for 11th place in the Big Ten standings.

That tie includes Northwestern, Southern California, Minnesota, and Rutgers, with all five teams still fighting to avoid finishing as the 15th seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg acknowledged the frustration of the recent losses but emphasized the importance of moving forward.

“We’ve got one opportunity left in front of us,” Hoiberg said. “We’ve got to go out there and play our best game of the year, play our best 40 minutes. The last week has been incredibly difficult—you lose three games essentially on the last possession.”

Brice Williams Making History for Nebraska

Despite the team’s struggles, Brice Williams has been sensational.

The senior guard scored a Nebraska program-record 43 points against Ohio State, shooting 16-of-29 from the field and 5-of-9 from 3-point range.

Williams now leads the Big Ten in scoring at 20.4 points per game, making him one of the top offensive threats in the conference.

Iowa Faces Must-Win Scenario to Keep Hopes Alive

While Nebraska is fighting for better seeding, Iowa (15-15, 6-13 Big Ten) faces a more dire situation.

The Hawkeyes are on a three-game losing streak and have dropped five of their last six games, including a 91-84 home loss to No. 8 Michigan State on Thursday.

Iowa led by 14 points in the first half, only to collapse defensively, continuing a trend that has plagued them all season.

Head coach Fran McCaffery knows that Sunday’s game is critical for his team’s postseason chances.

With only 15 wins, Iowa will need a deep Big Ten Tournament run to have any shot at an NCAA Tournament berth. But a loss to Nebraska could put their entire postseason in jeopardy, as they would likely fall to the bottom of the conference standings.

Payton Sandfort Leading Iowa’s Seniors in Final Push

For Iowa’s senior class, Sunday could be their final Big Ten regular-season game.

The team’s leading scorer, Payton Sandfort (16.1 PPG), has been a bright spot in an otherwise inconsistent season, but he’ll need a big game if Iowa hopes to pull out a crucial win on the road.

Meanwhile, reserve big man Even Brauns has earned praise from McCaffery for his leadership and team-first mentality.

“Everybody on the team loves him,” McCaffery said of Brauns. “The coaches appreciate him. Put him on the scout team, put him in the starting lineup, bring him off the bench, play him in crunch time, don’t play him at all. He just comes with it every day. And that’s character.”

Dive into comprehensive college basketball championship odds and expert forecasts to gauge the season’s potential frontrunners.

What’s at Stake?

For Nebraska, a win could lift them as high as the 11th seed in the Big Ten Tournament, while a loss could drop them to the bottom as the No. 15 seed.

For Iowa, this is a must-win game to stay in postseason contention, with the Hawkeyes likely needing a strong conference tournament run to have any shot at an NCAA bid.

With both teams desperate for a win, expect a physical, high-intensity battle in Lincoln as Iowa and Nebraska fight for their tournament lives.