The Nebraska Cornhuskers landed a four seed in the South Region of the bracket, and they’ll face off against the 13-seed Troy Trojans.
Nebraska vs. Troy opening odds
Troy arrives as the Sun Belt champion with a statistical profile built around offense and rebounding. The Trojans finished 22-11 overall (12-6 Sun Belt) and average roughly 78.3 points per game while generating 15.2 assists per night, showing a team that prefers movement and transition opportunities rather than grinding half-court possessions. The production is balanced but anchored by Victor Valdes, who leads the team at about 15.5 points per game and also handles a share of the playmaking duties. Inside, Thomas Dowd provides the physical presence with 10+ rebounds per game, giving Troy a legitimate second-chance scoring lane. The Trojans’ games often run faster than their seed suggests, and their offensive efficiency—combined with their willingness to attack the glass—has been the engine of their tournament run.
Nebraska, the No. 4 seed, enters with one of the more complete statistical profiles in the field. The Cornhuskers finished the regular season 26-5 (15-5 Big Ten) under Fred Hoiberg and rank among the nation’s better defensive teams, allowing only about 66 points per game while scoring just under 78 per night themselves. The defensive backbone shows up in efficiency metrics as well, with Nebraska ranking inside the national top-20 in points allowed and maintaining a +13 scoring margin across the season. Individually, Pryce Sandfort leads the team at 17.9 points per game, with Rienk Mast adding nearly six rebounds per game and Sam Hoiberg averaging 4.4 assists while anchoring the backcourt. The result is a roster that can control tempo defensively while still producing efficient offense—exactly the kind of statistical balance that tends to hold up in a 4-vs-13 tournament matchup.
