The No. 7 UCLA Bruins (3-0) and 20th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini (3-0) face off in Las Vegas Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the UCLA vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Both have yet to play a game off their home court this season, which changes in this 4-team tourney at T-Mobile Arena that also includes No. 6 Baylor and 14th-ranked Virginia. Championship and consolation games are Sunday.
UCLA’s 3 victories — each by a minimum of 24 points — came against Sacramento State, Long Beach State and Norfolk State. The Bruins scored 76, 93 and 86 points, respectively, in those contests.
Illinois scored 87, 86 and 103 points in its first 3 games against Eastern Illinois, Kansas City and Monmouth, respectively. All 3 wins were by 30 points or more, helping the Illini break into the Top 25.
With neither team really being tested yet, there is an unknown of how good either is. UCLA has the talent to win this game, but so does Illinois. This will be a fun game and it will go a long way to show if either of these teams should be considered for national championship contention heading into conference play.
Rankings courtesy of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
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UCLA vs. Illinois odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:43 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): UCLA -170 (bet $170 to win $100) | Illinois +135 (bet $100 to win $135)
- Against the spread (ATS): UCLA -3.5 (-105) | Illinois +3.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 145.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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UCLA vs. Illinois picks and predictions
Prediction
UCLA 80, Illinois 75
Moneyline
PASS.
With UCLA (-170) likely to win, the juice is not worth the wager to win this bet. If you like Illinois (+135), backing it’s ML is certainly the way to go.
Against the spread
BET UCLA -3.5 (-105).
UCLA has been challenged slightly more than Illinois early in the season. While this may seem counter intuitive, it will matter and will allow the Bruins to pull away at the end of the game.
Illinois has not broken a sweat in any of its first 3 games. In a game which the Illini have less talent than their opponent for the first time, the Illini will shrivel, and the Bruins will win and cover the -3.5 number.
Over/Under
BET OVER 145.5 (-110).
Scoring for either team will not be a problem.
The Illini have averaged 92.0 points per game and the Bruins 85.0 PPG to start the season. While I do not see either team getting to their averages since those early games were against cupcakes, 145.5 is still too low for this game.
Both teams will want to make a splash and show off what they are capable. Shots will be flying and enough will go in to hit OVER 145.5 (-110), which is my FAVORITE PLAY.
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