Illinois vs UCLA College Basketball Prediction, Odds, Picks, Best Bets for Feb. 21

The No. 10 Illinois Fighting Illini (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten) visit the UCLA Bruins (17-9, 9-6 Big Ten) in Big Ten action at Pauley Pavilion, tipping off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

Before you place your bet on this matchup at FanDuel Sportsbook, here are the NCAA basketball odds and spreads you need to know.

Illinois vs. UCLA Game Info and Odds

• Game day: Saturday, February 21, 2026
• Game time: 8 p.m. ET
• TV channel: FOX
• Location: Los Angeles, California
• Arena: Pauley Pavilion

Illinois vs. UCLA Picks and Prediction

All college basketball win probability predictions and picks are according to numberFire.
Prediction: Illinois win (57.3%)

Take a look at some betting trends and insights for Illinois (-6.5) versus UCLA on Saturday. The total has been set at 145.5 points for this game.

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Illinois vs. UCLA: ATS Betting Stats and Trends

• Illinois has put together a 17-10-0 ATS record so far this year.
• UCLA is 9-17-0 ATS this year.
• Illinois covers the spread when it is a 6.5-point favorite or more 61.1% of the time. That's more often than UCLA covers as an underdog of 6.5 or more (never covered this season).
• The Fighting Illini have covered the spread in a lower percentage of their home games than road games. They have covered nine times in 15 games when playing at home, and they've covered six times in eight games on the road.
• This year, the Bruins are 7-8-0 at home against the spread (.467 winning percentage). On the road, they are 2-6-0 ATS (.250).
• Illinois is 10-6-0 against the spread in conference play this season.
• UCLA is 5-10-0 against the spread in Big Ten action this season.

Illinois vs. UCLA: Moneyline Betting Stats

• Illinois has won in 15, or 83.3%, of the 18 contests it has been named as the moneyline favorite in this year.
• This season, the Fighting Illini have come away with a win 12 times in 14 chances when named as a favorite of at least -285 or shorter on the moneyline.
• UCLA has won 12.5% of the games this season it was the underdog on the moneyline (1-7).
• The Bruins have not yet won a game when it entered play as a moneyline underdog with odds of +230 or longer in three chances.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies Illinois has a 74% chance of walking away with the win.

Illinois vs. UCLA Head-to-Head Comparison

• Illinois was the ninth-best team in the country in points scored (83.6 per game) and 263rd in points conceded (74.8) last season.
• Illinois was the best team in the country in rebounds per game (39.7) and ranked 104th in rebounds conceded (30.1) last season.
• Illinois was 83rd in the country in assists (14.9 per game) last year.
• In terms of turnovers, Illinois was 215th in college basketball in committing them (11.4 per game) last season. It was second-worst in forcing them (8.5 per game).
• UCLA was led by its defense last year, as it ranked 22nd-best in college basketball by allowing just 65.2 points per game. It ranked 162nd in college basketball in points scored (74.2 per contest).
• UCLA averaged 29.9 rebounds per game (300th-ranked in college basketball). It gave up 28.4 rebounds per contest (34th-ranked).
• Last year UCLA ranked 28th in college basketball in assists, delivering 16.3 per game.
• UCLA ranked 13th-best in the country by forcing 14.4 turnovers per game. It ranked 71st in college basketball by committing 10 turnovers per contest.

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