The UCLA Bruins take on the Illinois Fighting Illini in Champaign, Illinois. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Illinois is favored by 6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -275. The total is set at 149 points.
Here’s my UCLA vs. Illinois predictions and college basketball picks for February 11, 2025.
UCLA Bruins vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction, Picks
My Pick: Illinois -5.5 (Play to -7)
My UCLA vs. Illinois best bet is on the Illini spread, with the best odds currently available at BetRivers. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
UCLA vs. Illinois Odds, Spread, Betting Line
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -115 | 147.5 -115o / -105u | +230 |
| Illinois Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -105 | 147.5 -115o / -105u | -295 |
- UCLA vs. Illinois spread: Illinois -7.5, UCLA +7.5
- UCLA vs. Illinois over/under: 147.5
- UCLA vs. Illinois moneyline: Illinois ML -295, UCLA ML +230
UCLA vs. Illinois CBB Preview
UCLA is one of the hottest teams in college basketball right now, as the Bruins have turned their season around with seven straight victories, including massive wins against Michigan State, Oregon and Wisconsin.
But this isn't a great spot for them, starting with the travel aspect.
They have to travel two time zones to face Illinois, a team that, when at full strength and playing to its peak, is a top-five offense in the country.
UCLA is elite defensively (eighth in KenPom's defensive efficiency metric), but facing the pick-and-roll duo of Kasparas Jakucionis and Tomislav Ivisic is a much different task altogether for Mick Cronin's bunch.
How Eric Dailey Jr., Tyler Bilodeau and Aday Mara match up against the Illini's size and Ivisic's pick-and-pop ability is ultimately going to decide how this game finishes. Truly, I don't believe any of those three have the ability to defend Ivisic on the perimeter, creating a huge matchup advantage for Illinois.
It doesn't end there, though. While the Bruins' guards have been much better during this seven-game stretch, they have a serious step up in competition against Jakucionis and Kylan Boswell.
Illinois is the much better team, Ivisic is a massive mismatch and the Bruins are eventually due for a letdown-type of game. This is that game, especially in a tough travel spot.
