Expert prediction
NCAA First Round: Troy vs Nebraska Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 19)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Trojans make their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
- The Cornhuskers are back in March Madness for two of the last three seasons.
- This marks the first all-time matchup between the two squads.
The first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament gets interesting as the Sun Belt’s Troy Trojans take on the Big Ten’s Nebraska Cornhuskers. The latter comes out as the solid favorite as both teams fight for the right to advance to the next round of March Madness.
How to Watch
- When: Thursday, March 19, 12:40 pm ET
- Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- How to Watch: truTV
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troy | -115 | +13 | O137.5 |
| Nebraska | -105 | -13 | U137.5 |
Game Preview
The Trojans (22-11) automatically qualified for March Madness after winning the Sun Belt, seeking a chance for a deep tournament run. The Trojans are paced on both ends of the court by Thomas Dowd, who has averaged a double-double this season with 14.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Dowd ranks 15th in the nation in rebounding (10.1 per game), and his 17 double-doubles rank 10th nationally. On another note, Victor Valdes has also scored at a 14.8 points per game as he looks to deliver a crucial performance for Troy.
The Cornhuskers (26-6) make their grand return to the NCAA Tournament, enjoying an incredible campaign after starting the year 20-0. Despite going 6-6 in their last 12 games, Nebraska still remains threatening as an explosive team on offense. Nebraska’s attack is led by first-team All-Big Ten performer Pryce Sandfort, who averages 17.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Rienk Mast anchors the Husker offense as he averages 13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game and is a two-time All-Big Ten honoree. Meanwhile, Braden Frager is the third Husker who averages double figures, as the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year is at 11.6 ppg.
Troy vs Nebraska Head-to-Head
The two programs are facing each other for the first time in their respective histories.
Troy vs Nebraska Predictions
The winner of the NU/Troy matchup will face the winner of the game between No. 5 seed Vanderbilt and No. 12 seed McNeese on Saturday. Troy has yet to win a game in the NCAA Tournament throughout its program history, making this matchup an intriguing one for the Trojans to try to pull off an upset. However, they must fend off the dynamic attack while finding holes in a disciplined defense. Our betting pick here is the Cornhuskers to defend a 13-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick: Nebraska Cornhuskers -13
NCAAB
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