logo
UCLA at Illinois odds, picks and predictions

UCLA at Illinois odds, picks and predictions

USA Today11-02-2025

Skip Snow
USA TODAY Sports
The UCLA Bruins (18-6, 9-4 Big Ten) visit the Illinois Fighting Illini (16-8, 8-6) in a Tuesday tussle in Champaign. The opening tip at the State Farm Center will be at 8 p.m. ET (Peacock). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's college basketball odds around the UCLA vs. Illinoisodds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
UCLA endured a rough stretch before and after the New Year, but the Bruins have rebounded with 7 straight wins since Jan. 17. Rate stats indicate that UCLA forces more turnovers than any team in the nation, and the Bruins forced 17 in their last game, a 78-54 triumph covering a 10.5-point spread vs. the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday. UCLA heads into Tuesday's game with a 3-0-1 mark against the spread (ATS) over its last 4 games.
Illinois also covered the number in a Saturday game. The favored-by-7 Illini routed the Minnesota Golden Gophers 95-74 to snap a 3-game road losing streak. A well-rounded up-tempo team, Illinois had shot just 41.1% in going 3-5 over its previous 8 games. But UI shot a season-high 63.2% against the Gophers.
- Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll
Stream select live college basketball games and full replays:Get ESPN+
Expert Super Bowl picks: Unique betting insights only at USA TODAY.
UCLA at Illinois odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:02 a.m. ET.
Moneyline: UCLA +195 (bet $100 to win $195) | Illinois -235 (bet $235 to win $100)
UCLA +195 (bet $100 to win $195) | Illinois -235 (bet $235 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS): UCLA +5.5 (-105) | Illinois -5.5 (-115)
UCLA +5.5 (-105) | Illinois -5.5 (-115) Over/Under (O/U): 149.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
UCLA at Illinois picks and predictions
Prediction
Illinois 80, UCLA 73
No interest. PASS.
UCLA has gone 1-4 ATS across its last 5 road games.
The Bruins have a tremendous defense, but look for Illinois' speed and 3s to be a problem for the visiting team in this one. UCLA's troubles began during a spate of contests against the Big Ten's fastest teams. KenPom pegs the Illini's adjusted tempo as 13th in the nation, fastest in the circuit.
And Illinois is a high-frequency 3-point squad. The Illini went 9 of 16 from distance in their last game. Across their 10 previous games, they have shot just 24.7%; across 7 games before that they shot 36.8%. Look for Illinois to make some gains on a shaky season number of 31.3%.
The Illinois defense excels in forcing suboptimum looks from the field. The Illini are the better rebounding team in this matcup, and they figure to win the battle in pursuing the most looks at the free-throw line.
ILLINOIS -5.5 (-115) is the leverage side here.
Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now!
This is a pace clash with ultra-slow UCLA (KenPom No. 304 in tempo) visiting ultra-fast Illinois. And in past performances of like games for both sides, the Over has been prevailing at a hefty clip and with impressive margins.
Look for a lot of rim-and-3 action in a game that pushes UCLA late. And the Bruins excel in the turnover-fed transition game. BACK THE OVER 149.5 (-110).
Want to play some games of your own? Play for free at the best social casinos and enjoy lots of slots, blackjack, video poker, roulette and more. You can even earn real prizes!
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X andlike us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / Recruiting / Transfer portal / College Football Playoffs / College Sports Wire / High School
More NCAA College Basketball Picks and Predictions!
Arizona at Kansas State odds, picks and predictions
Florida at Mississippi State odds, picks and predictions
Baylor at Houston odds, picks and predictions

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Kansas City Chiefs' Foolish Club Studios Sets Executive Team (Exclusive)
Kansas City Chiefs' Foolish Club Studios Sets Executive Team (Exclusive)

Yahoo

time22 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Kansas City Chiefs' Foolish Club Studios Sets Executive Team (Exclusive)

The entertainment studio launched by the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs has set its executive team, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Foolish Club Studios, the venture that the Chiefs announced just before this year's Super Bowl, will be led by CEO Mark Donovan and COO Lura Krug. More from The Hollywood Reporter Whoopi Goldberg Co-Founded All Women's Sports Network, Pluto TV Launch FAST Channel Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka: How to Stream the French Open Women's Final Online for Free How to Watch Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky Online Without Cable for Free Donovan also serves as president of the Chiefs, with Krug also working as the team's executive vp of media and marketing. In addition, Chiefs CFO Dan Crumb will serve in the same capacity for the studio, while Gelsomina Picariello will work as head of studio and development for Foolish Club, while also working as senior director of media and programming for the Chiefs. Foolish Club Studios is is a tribute to Chiefs and American Football League founder Lamar Hunt, with the original owners embracing the 'foolish' effort to try and take on the National Football League. As the Chiefs have become a dominant force in the NFL, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes and stars like Travis Kelce, their relevance in popular culture has also grown. The Chiefs were featured in a Hallmark Channel original movie last year, with a docuseries called The Kingdom coming to ESPN platforms later this year. Foolish Club is a producer on both projects, with others in development. 'The idea for Foolish Club Studios was sparked a few years ago, and to see it evolve into a fully operational studio is a testament to the entrepreneurial drive my father exemplified,' Kansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. 'Storytelling has always been integral to the Chiefs franchise, and by pushing boundaries and inspiring innovative thinking, we have developed yet another exciting way to make authentic connections with sports fans around the world. I look forward to the great stories that Foolish Club Studios will bring to life on the screen.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire

Panthers Join Savannah Bananas for Historic Weekend in Charlotte
Panthers Join Savannah Bananas for Historic Weekend in Charlotte

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Panthers Join Savannah Bananas for Historic Weekend in Charlotte

Panthers Join Savannah Bananas for Historic Weekend in Charlotte originally appeared on Athlon Sports. What happens when you mix the Carolina Panthers' brightest stars with baseball's most viral circus act? You break records, create memories, and remind Charlotte why it loves sports. Advertisement The Savannah Bananas brought their sold-out Banana Ball World Tour to Bank of America Stadium this past weekend, and the show was nothing short of legendary. With 148,000 fans in attendance over two nights, setting a new franchise record, but what really made the event unforgettable was the energy injected by Panthers royalty both past and present. All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly, tight end Greg Olsen, and running back Jonathan Stewart, key figures from the Panthers' unforgettable 2015 Super Bowl run were front and center Friday night. Kuechly, known for his meticulous preparation on the football field, threw out the first pitch after a self-imposed bullpen session that spanned hours. Stewart dashed home in classic J-Stew style, crashing through the dugout like he was breaking tackles at the goal line. Meanwhile, Olsen suited up in full Bananas gear and took the field with TikTok star Jackson Olsen. This was a meeting of gridiron and social media icons that had fans snapping photos and screaming double takes. The Savannah Bananas celebrate a home run hit by Jackson Olsen.© Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images On Saturday, current Panthers players joined the fray. Quarterback Andy Dalton traded the pocket for 'undodgeball,' pelting foam footballs in an interactive segment that had fans in stitches. Wide receiver Adam Thielen, who led the team in receiving yards last season, stepped up to home plate and broke into his signature Griddy dance, much to the delight of the crowd. Advertisement 'This city's got passion,' Dalton said. 'To have 74,000 show up back-to-back nights, it's a reminder that Charlotte is a sports town. Hopefully, that translates to our season too.' It wasn't just about fun, it was also personal. Charlotte native and Bananas player Eric Jones Jr. called it a career highlight, "Loved the Panthers my whole life, cried when they lost the Super Bowl in '04 and then in '15 I was in college having the time of my life watching all those playoff games with my buddies and it was just special. I hope that we get to play in Charlotte every year. I think it's the perfect spot. The fans are really hungry for it here…one, we need a major league team, but two, we need a Banana ball team right here." Savannah Bananas first baseman Eric Jones Jr.© Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Between choreographed dances, glowing light shows, and fireworks, the Bananas' brand of baseball stole the spotlight, but it was the Panthers' cameos that added soul to the spectacle. From record-setting attendance to nostalgic reunions, this weekend proved one thing loud and clear: Charlotte doesn't just watch sports, it lives them. Advertisement Don't blink, Panthers fans. This city's just warming up. Related: Everything to Know Inside the Panthers' NFL Draft Dilemma Related: Can Nic Scourton Become What Brian Burns Was for the Panthers? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.

Minnesota Vikings make unique trade in Way-Too-Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft
Minnesota Vikings make unique trade in Way-Too-Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Minnesota Vikings make unique trade in Way-Too-Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft

Minnesota Vikings make unique trade in Way-Too-Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft We're still over a month away from training camps opening for the 2025 season. But that doesn't mean NFL draft enthusiasts aren't ready to share their 2026 mock drafts. There are several reasons the exercise is premature. We have no tape to go by in 2025 yet. So the projections are mostly a copy-and-paste from last year's standings, shuffling a few teams here and there based on the splashiest free agency and draft moves from this spring. It's also hard to get the most hardcore fans into draft mode until the Super Bowl is over. Yet here we are, with a June mock for next year's draft. And it has the Minnesota Vikings trading down with the Chicago Bears. This weekend, Mark Stolte of Pro Football Network believed a first-round mock draft wasn't enough, instead giving us a three-round mock for 2026. He projected the Vikings to move down from pick 15 to 18, only gaining a fifth-round pick in the exchange. Once on the clock, Stolte had the Vikings choose Oregon center Iapani Laloulu. The 6'2", 325-pound center played 970 snaps in 2024, lining up at center for 854 of them. Says Stolte: Iapani Laloulu started at center for Oregon in 2024 and put up strong numbers. He didn't allow a sack in 760 pass-blocking snaps, and in the run game, Oregon averaged 4.7 yards per carry in the A-gap — proof of his power inside. This pick helps the Minnesota Vikings keep the offensive line rolling when Ryan Kelly eventually retires. It may not be a sexy pick, much like when the Vikings took Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson in the first round back in April. But Kelly just turned 32 and has missed ten games due to injury in the past two seasons. For those who are wondering, the Bears took Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the 15th pick. The compensation doesn't seem to make the move worth it for the Vikings. Furthermore, the trade itself suggests the Vikings finish last in the NFC North. It isn't impossible, but that would likely mean that J.J. McCarthy's first season as a starter didn't go as well as fans hoped. Fortunately, the Vikings had plenty of draft capital after this pick. With the 47th selection, Stolte had the Vikings take Washington cornerback Tacario Davis. At pick no. 79, the Vikings took Alabama safety Keon Sabb. And with the 98th pick, the Vikings took Minnesota Golden Gopher running back Darius Taylor.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store