The UCLA Bruins take on the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing, MI. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Michigan State is favored by 8.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -500. The total is set at 139.5 points.
Here’s my UCLA vs. Michigan State prediction and college basketball picks for February 17, 2026.
UCLA vs Michigan State Prediction
My Pick: UCLA +8.5
My UCLA vs Michigan State 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.
UCLA vs. Michigan State Odds
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -105 | 139.5 -110o / -110u | +375 |
| Michigan State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -115 | 139.5 -110o / -110u | -500 |
- UCLA vs Michigan State spread: Michigan State -8.5
- UCLA vs Michigan State over/under: 139.5 points
- UCLA vs Michigan State moneyline: UCLA +375, Michigan State -500
UCLA vs Michigan State College Basketball Betting Preview
UCLA Basketball
After starting the season ranked 12th, the Bruins are squarely a bubble team.
They’ve been impressive in a few spots this season, including a win against Purdue and in tests against Gonzaga and Iowa.
But overall, you have to include their terrible showings against Ohio State and California; both losses in games they were favored in. They also lost by 30 points in their last game against No. 2 Michigan.
That being said, a win against a team in the tournament field on the road will do a lot to bolster their resume. This would be their second Quad 1 win of the season, which will matter to the committee, especially considering they’re coming in as almost double-digit underdogs.
Michigan State Basketball
Top to bottom, the Spartans come in as the deeper team. They average 78 points a game, including three players who average double figures in points.
Michigan State's roster is shaped a little bit differently than UCLA's, as it's top-heavy. Many times, the Spartans play just a seven-to-eight-man rotation. UCLA has five players averaging double digits, and it gets minimal bench help.
Jeremy Fears Jr. is the Spartans' leader, and this team goes as he does. In the Spartans' bad losses against Minnesota and Wisconsin, he scored just 14 and 10 points, respectively.
UCLA vs. Michigan State Betting Analysis
Both of these teams are in quintessential rebound spots, as UCLA lost by 30 to one of the best teams in the land and Michigan State was defeated by 21 against Wisconsin.
While Michigan State's depth is troublesome, we’ve seen Fears struggle against physical guards, and UCLA has Donovan Dent.
This is a question of who needs this game more, and as of now, it’s UCLA.
My Pick: UCLA +8.5
