Illinois Fighting Illini at UCLA Bruins odds, picks and predictions

The No. 10 Illinois Fighting Illini (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten) and UCLA Bruins (17-9, 9-6) meet Saturday at 8 p.m. ET (Fox) from Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA basketball odds around the Illinois vs. UCLA odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions for the best bets.

Illinois throttled the USC Trojans 101-65 on Wednesday, covering as an 8.5-point road favorite with the Over (151.5) cashing. After losing back-to-back games straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS), the Illini have won and covered in 2 straight. They are 16-11 ATS on the season.

UCLA was annihilated by the No. 15 Michigan State Spartans on Tuesday, failing to cover as a 7.5-point road underdog with the Over (139.5) hitting. The Bruins have lost 2 straight — by 23 and 30 points — and are 10-16 ATS on the season.

Illinois won the only meeting between the teams last season, winning 83-78 at home, but UCLA covered as a 7-point underdog with the Over (149.0) hitting.

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Illinois at UCLA odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 11:10 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Illinois -285 (bet $285 to win $100) | UCLA +230 (bet $100 to win $230)
• Against the spread (ATS): Illinois -6.5 (-110) | UCLA +6.5 (-110)
• Over/Under (O/U): 146.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

Illinois at UCLA picks and predictions

Prediction

Illinois 83, UCLA 68

PASS.

No interest. Despite being on the road, Illinois (-285) should win handily here but isn’t close to worth almost 3 times your money.

BET ILLINOIS -6.5 (-110).

The Bruins have been awful against quality sides, losing by 23 to the Spartans and by 30 to the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines over their last 2 games. UCLA is just 1-2 ATS in its last 3 home games, as well.

The Fighting Illini have been throttling opponents, scoring at least 78 points in 5 of their last 6 games. They can certainly put up enough to cover a spread of this size. Illinois is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 away games.

Back ILLINOIS -6.5 (-110).

BET OVER 146.5 (-105).

The Fighting Illini have one of the country’s most efficient offenses, scoring at least 90 points in 2 of their last 3 games. They are 3-1 O/U across their last 4 contests.

UCLA has gone 4-1 O/U in its last 5 performances, mainly because of its weak defense. The Bruins have allowed at least 82 points in 3 of their previous 5 games.

Take OVER 146.5 (-105).

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