The set-up: The 12-14 Nebraska Cornhuskers are just 6-8 in Big Ten play and are trying to just reach .500 overall, in hopes of any kind of postseason tourney invite. The 'Huskers will venture into East Lansing tonight for a game with the 16-11 Michigan State Spartans, who are 8-6 in Big Ten play after losing badly 80-63 last Saturday at now-No. 14 Purdue.

Nebraska: The Cornhuskers knew swingman Shields (leading scorer at 16.8 PPG) was graduating but suffered a big blow when the-7 Andrew White III (16.6 & 5.9 LY) decided to play his graduate senior season at Syracuse. Backcourt players Webster (17.7-4.8-4.2) returned but are the team's lone double digit scorers. Emblematic of a near-.500 team, Nebraska averages 70.8 PPG and allows 71.0.

Michigan Sttae: Tom Izzo has led the Spartans to 19 straight NCAA tournaments but this yeat's team is squarely "on the bubble." Senior guard Eron Harris, the team's third-leading scorer at 10.7 PPG, suffered a season-ending leg injury against the Boilermakers and Izzo now relies on four freshman. The 6-7 Miles Bridges (16.1 & 8.5) is a star and will likely be gone at the end of this year. The remainder of MSU's young talent are the 6-8 Ward (12.9 & 5.8), PG Winston (7.0 & 5.3 APG) and guard Langford (6.1). Ellis III (6.6) and Matt McQuaid (5.2) have shared time with Harris at SG this season and it's likely Ellis will start tonight.

The pick: Assuming Ellis starts, Izzo will send out his ninth different starting lineup of the campaign. It's hardly been a "typical Izzo season" but expect a strong bounce-back off that 'ugly' effort at Purdue. The Cornhuskers are a very beatable foe and I see the Over (10*s) being the best play in this one.