Illinois vs. USC Dunkel Predictions & Vegas Odds - Feb. 18

The No. 10 Illinois Fighting Illini (21-5, 12-3 Big Ten) are favored by 9.5 points versus the USC Trojans (18-7, 7-7 Big Ten) on February 18, 2026 at Galen Center. The Fighting Illini are flying, going 8-2 in their past 10 games. The matchup's point total is set at 150.5.

Illinois heads into this matchup on the heels of a 71-51 win against Indiana on Sunday. In Illinois' win, David Mirkovic led the way with a team-high 25 points (adding seven rebounds and three assists). USC enters this game on the heels of an 89-82 loss to Ohio State on Wednesday. Alijah Arenas scored 25 points in USC's loss, leading the team.

Illinois vs. USC Odds and Game Time

• When: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 10 p.m. ET
• Where: Galen Center in Los Angeles, California
• Spread favorite: Illinois -9.5
• Moneyline favorite: Illinois -526
• Moneyline underdog: USC +380
• Over/Under: 150.5 points

How to watch Illinois vs. USC

• TV Channel: BTN
• Check out the rest of our Dunkel Index NCAA Basketball Picks!

Betting the Over/Under: Illinois vs. USC

• Illinois and its opponents have combined to exceed Wednesday's total of 150.5 points 12 times this season.
• There have been 16 USC games that finished with a combined score higher than 150.5 points this season.
• The total for the contest of 150.5 is 15.0 points fewer than the combined points per game averages for the Fighting Illini (84.2 points per game) and the Trojans (81.3 points per game).
• The 144 points per game these two teams surrender to opponents on average this season are 6.5 fewer than the 150.5 over/under in this contest.
• Illinois has a 152.4 average over/under in its games this season, 1.9 more points than the over/under in this matchup.
• USC's games have an average over/under of 157.1 points this season, 6.6 more points than the over/under for this game.

Betting the Spread: Illinois vs. USC

• Illinois has played 26 games, with 16 wins against the spread.
• This season, the Fighting Illini have an against-the-spread record of 10-7 in their 17 games as a favorite of 9.5 points or more.
• Against the spread, USC is 13-11-0 this season.
• This season, the Trojans have just one ATS win in three games as an underdog of 9.5 points or more.
• At home this season, USC is 8-3 overall and 6-5 against the spread.
• At home, as a 9.5-point underdog or more, USC is 4-3 ATS.
• Illinois is 6-1 overall, and 5-2 against the spread, on the road.
• Illinois has one win ATS (1-1) as 9.5-point favorites or more away from home.

Betting the Moneyline: Illinois vs. USC

• This season, Illinois has been moneyline favorites 21 times and won 18, or 85.7%, of those games.
• The Fighting Illini are 12-2 this season when entering a game favored by -526 or more on the moneyline.
• Bookmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that Illinois has a 84% chance to win.
• USC has won in three of the eight contests it has been named as the moneyline underdog this year.
• The Trojans have been listed as an underdog of +380 or more on two occasions this season and lost both games.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies USC has a 20.8% chance of walking away with the win.

Dunkel Index Prediction for Illinois vs. USC

• Pick ATS: USC (+ 9.5)
• Pick OU: Under (150.5)
  
• Prediction: USC 74 - Illinois 73