Rogers' *10* Underdog SURPRISE >> 18-9 L27 NCAAB!
(NCAAB) Nebraska vs. Northwestern,
Point Spread: 8.50 | -106.00 Nebraska (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: Is this finally the year that Northwestern goes 'dancing?' It's the only school from a Power-5 conference to have never appeared in the NCAA tourney. However, the NCAA Tournament buzz is building, as the Wildcats have won four ina row to reach 16-4, including 5-2 in Big Ten play. Northwesterm will host 9-10 (3-4 in Big Ten play) Thursday night.

Nebraska: The Cornhuskers knew they would lose swingman and leading scorer Shields (16.8) this year but when Andrew White (16.6) decide to play his final season at Syracuse, as a graduate transfer, Tim Miles' team took a big hit. Miles got Nebraska to the NCAA tourney in his second season at the school but these last two years, Nebraska has won just 13 and 16 games. Four-year starter. 6-4 combo guard Tai Webster (18.1-4.9-3.9) is the team's best player. Fellow guard Glynn Watson Jr. ranks second on the team in scoring (14.6) but the only other player in double digits is the 6-7 Morrow (10.1 & 7.9) but he's missed the last three games witha foot injury. Nebraska scores 71.5 PPG and allows 70.9, making its 9-10 record seem just about right.

Northwestern: The Wildcats are on their first four-game run in Big Ten play in two years and a victory here would give them their first five-game run since 1965-66. "This team, history doesn't define us," guard Scottie Lindsey (16.0 & 4.3) told reporters after scoring 21 points against the Buckeyes on Sunday, the school's first victory at Ohio State in 40 years! "The past things that have happened with this program, it doesn't really matter to this team. We push through that type of stuff." PG Bryant McIntosh (12.6 & APG) chipped in 17 points at Ohio State. Swingman Sanjay Lumpkin (6.4 & 7.0) hauled in 11 rebounds and is averaging seven a game while the team's top player on the glass - center Dererk Pardon (7.5) - grabbed eight along with handing out a career-high four assists. 6-7 Forward Vic Law (14.0 & 5.8) had 15 points in the win over Nebraska and has reached double digits in eight consecutive contests.

The pick: Northwestern can say all it wants that the past is in the past but I expect this team to have its problems down the stretch, at least when favored by as many points as the Wildcats are here. Remember, Nebraska won SU at Indiana as a two-TD underdog and its four-game losing streak has come by a combined 16 points. Take the points and make Nebraska a 10* play.