The Illinois Fighting Illini take on the USC Trojans in Los Angeles, CA. Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. ET on BTN.
Illinois is favored by 9 points on the spread with a moneyline of -500. The total is set at 153.5 points.
Here’s my Illinois vs. USC prediction and college basketball picks for February 18, 2026.
Illinois vs USC Prediction
My Pick: Illinois -9
My Illinois vs USC best bet is on the Fighting Illini 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. USC Odds
| Illinois Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9 -110 | 153.5 -110 / -110 | -500 |
| USC Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9 -110 | 153.5 -110 / -110 | +375 |
- Illinois vs USC spread: Illinois -9
- Illinois vs USC over/under: 153.5 points
- Illinois vs USC moneyline: Illinois -500, USC +375
Illinois vs USC College Basketball Betting Preview
Illinois Basketball
Just 10 days ago, Brad Underwood’s bunch was in the midst of an unbelievably impressive 13-game win streak, but the Illini have now dropped two of their last three contests.
The Illini got slightly back on track this past Sunday with a dominant 20-point victory over Indiana.
Illinois got some big news prior to Sunday’s win, as its point guard Kylan Boswell returned from a hand injury.
Keaton Wagler really carried the load for the Illini in the absence of their senior leader and premier defender, scoring over 20 points per game without Boswell. The chemistry between the two picked up right where it left off, with Wagler contributing 18 points in the dominant win.
Illinois really showed its long-term potential with an offensive explosion over its 11-game winning streak. The Fighting Illini are scoring over 85 points per game and rank first nationally in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
The country’s eighth-ranked team is well on its way to securing its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance under Underwood. Illinois has had several uber-talented rosters throughout his tenure, including the Ayo Dosunmu No. 1-seeded team that fell to Loyola Chicago in the second round of the Big Dance.
Yet at full strength, this Illinois team may be the most explosive offense Underwood has ever coached.
Illinois’ guards have superb athleticism with an uncanny ability to light it up from beyond the arc, evident through 18- and 17-three-point performances in the last couple of weeks alone.
In addition to Boswell and Wagler, Andrej Stojakovic, the son of former NBA star Peja, is scoring nearly 14 points per game, adding backcourt depth to a team that already boasts elite guard play.
The Illini have overwhelming size in their frontcourt, with several versatile bigs who can stretch the floor and score from anywhere. David Mirkovic is shooting over 40% from deep while also dominating the glass with over eight rebounds per contest.
On the other end of the floor, it's extremely difficult for opposing forwards to score inside the lane when matched up against the likes of Tomislav Ivisic and his brother Zvonimir.
Illinois ranks inside the top 30 in the country in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom, and is allowing under 70 points per game this season.
USC Basketball
USC enters Wednesday night’s matchup with an 18-7 overall record on the season, having won three of its last four contests.
After a disappointing debut season, Trojans head coach Eric Musselman is on a great track to securing an NCAA Tournament berth in 2025-26.
Musselman earned a reputation as a great recruiter during his five-season tenure as Arkansas' head coach. In his first full offseason in L.A., the Trojan head coach landed one of the best freshmen — Alijah Arenas — and one of the best transfers — Chad Baker-Mazara.
Musselman’s offense is scoring over 77 points per game this season, but it ranks outside the top 70 in the country in offensive efficiency, per Haslametrics, largely due to a turnover problem that's slightly improved over the Trojans’ last five contests.
Arenas missed time due to a car accident, so getting the freshman back is certainly contributing to the improvements.
USC senior forward Ezra Ausar is having a great year in the frontcourt, posting 16 points per game along with six rebounds. Ausar is an extremely effective two-way player with great athleticism for his size — his 6-foot-9, 260-pound frame has been a nightmare matchup for opposing forwards.
Musselman’s bunch has actually been more efficient on the defensive end of the floor, ranking inside the top 40 nationally in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
Both Ausar and 6-foot-10 sophomore forward Jacob Cofie have been spectacular rim protectors this season, leading an elite defensive frontcourt.
USC is undoubtedly still on the bubble, but it's trending upward since the return of Arenas.
For a Trojans team that already lost arguably its best player in Rodney Rice earlier this season, it definitely needs Baker-Mazara healthy and back in the lineup as it looks to improve its NCAA Tournament resume down the stretch.
Illinois vs. USC Betting Analysis
The status of Baker-Mazara has sizable implications when handicapping this game.
However, even if the USC guard returns to action on Wednesday, I think this Illinois squad is too dominant offensively for a Trojans defense that's struggled mightily defending the perimeter this season.
While USC is heating up at the perfect time, Underwood’s bunch excels on both ends of the floor and boasts one of the most complete rosters in college basketball.
Now that Illinois has its floor general and senior leader back on the court (Boswell), I expect an offensive onslaught from the Fighting Illini against a very inconsistent USC perimeter defense.
I’ll be backing the road favorite Illinois to cover the spread on Wednesday.
My Pick: Illinois -9
