Nebraska big man Berke Buyuktuncel is suited up and going through warmups. Without him, the Cornhuskers have really struggled on the glass without him and will need him with the two seven-footers for Michigan. The Wolverines have issues with protecting the ball all season and Nebraska has the defense to create turnovers, averaging a little over 13 a game at home. With Buyuktuncel, hopefully, back in the lineup, the Cornhuskers have a better presence in the paint to compete on the boards along with being 10-3 SU at home and 1-0 as home underdogs.

Nebraska surely will play with focus and desperation after an embarrassing performance at Penn State. But I like Michigan in a close one, especially with Berke Buyuktuncel's status still in question. The 6-10, 244-pound Cornhuskers forward has missed three straight games after suffering what coach Fred Hoiberg called a "significant" ankle injury on Feb. 9. With Michigan boasting 7-footers Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin, Buyuktuncel is vital. He has a chance to play after doing some live on-court work Saturday. Nebraska has been shaky without him. I'm betting that even if he does suit up, he won't make his typical impact. Look for the Wolverines to rebound from their rivalry loss to Michigan State and improve to 7-2 away from home.

Yeah, this is fishy as hell, with a team pushing for the top seed in the conference catching a few points vs a Big 10 cellar dweller. Oh, and Huskers have lost 3 of 5 at home. They lost to lowly Rutgers and USC at home within the last month. NEB vs top teams in conference: Swept by UMD, blown out by Sparty, Purdue and WISC. Did beat ILL but they were spiraling. MICH 6-2 on road in conference and hasn't lost two straight in Big 10 this season. Motivated after tough loss to Sparty. NEB is -5.2 in conference (3rd worst). They have come back to earth after a nice run. Wolverines won 16 of 19 in series and 7 of 9 at Nebraska.