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Illinois vs. UCLA prediction: Illinois favored to win men's college basketball matchup [2/21/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Dave Garofolo, Content Producer
Get Illinois vs UCLA predictions for college basketball Saturday.
UCLA and Illinois will meet in men's college basketball action at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday, starting at 8:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' advanced college basketball model predicts Illinois as the most likely winner of the Illinois vs. UCLA game.
This article offers further insights into Saturday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and picks.
Illinois vs. UCLA prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using innovative machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Saturday's NCAA basketball matchup between Illinois and UCLA 10,000 times as part of our men's college basketball predictions coverage.
Our independent predictive model gives Illinois a 69% chance of beating UCLA. Our predicted final score has Illinois winning 75-70.
According to our model, UCLA (+7.5) has a 60% chance of covering the spread, while the 146.5-point over/under has an equal 50-50 chance of hitting.
Illinois vs. UCLA odds
We have researched the best men's college basketball odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Illinois | UCLA |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | -7.5 (-120) | +7.5 (-110) |
| Moneyline | -275 | +240 |
| Total | o146.5 (-115) | u146.5 (-105) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Illinois vs. UCLA picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | UCLA +7.5 | -110 |
| Moneyline | UCLA | +240 |
| Total | Under 146.5 | -105 |
According to our men's college basketball best bets, the top play to make on this game is UCLA +7.5 at the spread.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Illinois vs. UCLA game-day updates and essential details
Saturday's men's college basketball game between UCLA and Illinois at Pauley Pavilion is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM ET.
- Who: Illinois vs. UCLA
- Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
- Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
- Venue: Pauley Pavilion
Conclusion
We predict Illinois, with a 69% win probability, will likely beat UCLA on Saturday.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Illinois vs. UCLA insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Dave Garofolo uses sophisticated AI-driven analytics to make predictions and evaluate player performances in the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, NCAAM, and PGA TOUR tournaments, crafting insightful game and prop previews.
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