The men's college basketball games get all of the mainstream attention, but they are not the only game in town. Many of the women's college basketball games are just as exciting, if not more so. From a betting perspective, there are plenty of enticing opportunities for those willing to take a shot.
Sportsbooks often tend to drag their feet when it comes to posting odds for women's games, not doing so until a few hours before tip-off (if at all). Make sure to shop around for the best and most up-to-date odds before putting money down.
There are quite a few games on the schedule for today. Below are our top three women’s college basketball picks for Thursday, March 6th’s game Nebraska vs. Illinois.
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Thursday's Best Women’s College Basketball Bets: Nebraska vs. Illinois
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Nebraska vs. Illinois
- Start Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Coverage: Big Ten Network
- Last Meeting: February 16, 2025 - Nebraska won 77-68
Nebraska (20-10, Big Ten: 10-8) earned its way into the second round of the Big Ten Tournament and a date with Illinois (21-8, Big Ten: 11-7) by dominating Rutgers 84-60 in first-round action on Tuesday. The Cornhuskers took a 22-13 first-quarter lead and never looked back.
Illinois just hosted Nebraska in Champaign at the State Farm Center a few weeks ago. The Illini were slight 3.5-point home favorites but won a competitive game by nine points, 77-68. The Cornhuskers can score some points (No. 36 in the country) but struggle a little on the defensive end (No. 259, 67.8 points per game allowed).
Illinois has a decent offense (No. 81, 71.2 points per game) and a better defense (No. 105, 61.3 points per game allowed).
Illinois was the better team, but they faltered down the stretch and lost their last three. Nebraska won three of their last four after the loss to Illinois, scoring 94, 98 and 84 points in the three wins. That momentum rolled into the first round, which is why I had to go with the Cornhuskers to win outright.
Pick: Nebraska Moneyline (-102)
