NCAA Second Round: Vanderbilt vs Nebraska Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 21)

• The Commodores took down McNeese in the first round.
• The Cornhuskers blew out Troy in the Round of 64.
• This marks the eighth all-time matchup between the two squads.

The second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament gets interesting as the SEC’s Vanderbilt Commodores duel with the Big Ten’s Nebraska Cornhuskers. The former comes out as the slight favorite as both teams compete for the right to move on to the Sweet 16 of March Madness.

How to Watch

• When: Saturday, March 21, 8:45 pm ET
• Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• How to Watch: TNT

NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines

Game Preview

The Commodores (27-8) pulled off a resilient win over McNeese, trailing for most of the first half before taking control for the remainder of the game. Tyler Tanner led the Commodores with 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists. The All-American guard nailed three from beyond the arc and went 9-of-10 from the line. Duke Miles added 13 points along with three assists. Tyler Nickel had 12 points off three triples and three free throws. Devin McGlockton matched Nickel with 12 points while grabbing eight boards himself. AK Okereke had seven points and led Vandy with nine rebounds.

The Cornhuskers (27-6) finally earned their first-ever win in the NCAA Tournament, dominating Troy in the first round. First-team All-Big Ten selection Pryce Sandfort led the historic Husker victory, scoring 17 of his 23 points before halftime, including five 3-pointers before intermission. He finished the game 7-of-12 from 3-point range. Jamarques Lawrence added 13 points for Nebraska with three 3-pointers made, while Rienk Mast had 11 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Braden Frager scored 13 points off the bench.

Vanderbilt vs Nebraska Head-to-Head

The two programs have faced each other seven times in their respective histories, seeing the Commodores with the 5-2 edge.

Vanderbilt vs Nebraska Predictions

The winner of this matchup will take on the victors between Florida and Iowa in the Sweet 16. Nebraska boasts an elite attack that will be active from beyond the arc, while Vanderbilt has talented scorers with Tyler Tanner leading the way. This game is a tossup as it goes down to the wire, which Nebraska might shine the most with the bigger plays in the closing minutes. Our betting pick here is the Cornhuskers to cover a 2-point spread.

• Free NCAAB pick: Nebraska Cornhuskers +2