The Illinois Fighting Illini take on the UCLA Bruins in Los Angeles, CA. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Illinois is favored by 6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -280. The total is set at 145.5 points.
Here’s my Illinois vs. UCLA predictions and college basketball picks for February 21, 2026.
Illinois vs UCLA Prediction
My Pick: UCLA +6.5 (Play to +6)
My Illinois vs UCLA best bet is on the Bruins to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Illinois vs. UCLA Odds
| Illinois Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 145.5 -110 / -110 | -280 |
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 145.5 -110 / -110 | +230 |
- Illinois vs UCLA spread: Illinois -6.5
- Illinois vs UCLA over/under: 145.5 points
- Illinois vs UCLA moneyline: Illinois -280, UCLA +230
Illinois vs UCLA College Basketball Betting Preview
Illinois Basketball
Illinois is a team that's built to succeed in the NCAA Tournament, as it ranks in the top 23 in both offensive and defensive adjusted efficiency.
The Illini love to play a controlled style of play, ranking 292nd in adjusted tempo and 328th in average possession length.
They also play a very clean game defensively, averaging a block on 13% of defensive possessions while being the top team nationally when it comes to limiting opponent free-throw opportunities.
They shoot a lot of 3s, ranking 10th in the nation in that category. However, UCLA has one of the top perimeter defenses in college basketball.
UCLA Basketball
Mick Cronin hasn't turned out to be a good hire for the Bruins (based on their overall results), but they have some good wins sprinkled in this season.
As they sit squarely on the bubble, they’ve now lost three of their last five games. The good news is those were all Quad 1 or Quad 2 defeats.
Donovan Dent has been the Bruins' most consistent piece, but this team lacks overall depth.
In this matchup, UCLA will almost be dwarfed in size, as it ranks 69th in that category compared to Illinois, who's first.
While the Bruins might lose the rebounding battle, the turnover edge will go to them. While UCLA ranks 26th in offensive turnovers and Illinois ranks 14th, the Illinois defense is last in creating turnovers. Meanwhile, UCLA ranks 76th in that same category.
Illinois vs. UCLA Betting Analysis
Before the season is over, I'll learn my lesson not to bet on UCLA with any of my hard-earned money. That day isn't Saturday.
The Bruins come in as just 6.5-point underdogs and continually get outplayed in their games, especially when I back them.
This is a very good Illinois team, so the spread is a little tricky. But the travel situation is also tricky for the Illini.
The Bruins were embarrassed in their last game, leading to Cronin ejecting one of his own players (Steven Jamerson II).
Due to this, I expect a more physical UCLA to come out of the gates. I won't take the risk of it winning, but I do expect it to keep this game close.
Most metrics will favor Illinois, but if UCLA can dictate the pace and flow of the game, it can keep it within striking distance.
My Pick: UCLA +6.5 (Play to +6)
