| MATCHUP | Illinois Fighting Illini | USC Trojans |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 21-5 | 18-7 |
| Spread | -8.5 -112 | +8.5 -108 |
| Moneyline | -455 | +350 |
| Total | Over 153.5 (-115) | Under 153.5 (-105) |
| Where | Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA | |
| When | Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | |
| Time | 10:00 PM EST | |
| TV | BTN | |
The Illinois Fighting Illini and the USC Trojans meet Wednesday in college basketball action from Galen Center in Los Angeles. Here’s an Illinois vs USC prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Illinois vs USC pick. We will examine the recent form and player performances for both teams, as well as the recent betting trends and streaks pertaining to this matchup. As we conclude, we will tie it all together with a summary that produces a sensible pick for a favorable betting outcome in this game.
Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Preview
Illinois posted a pretty solid 8-3 record over their first 11 games this year. The Illini then hit a win streak over Missouri, Southern, Penn State, Rutgers, Iowa, Northwestern, Minnesota, Maryland, Purdue, Washington, Nebraska and Northwestern before losses to Michigan State and Wisconsin. After another win over Indiana the Illini are sitting at 21-5 so far this year.
In the Indiana matchup on Sunday, the Illini had a fairly modest lead at halftime, in front 38-31. Illinois got better from there though, hitting a 33-20 run on the way to a 71-51 victory on their home court. David Mirkovic posted a team-high 25 points with seven rebounds and three assists while Keaton Wagler had 18 points with six boards and three assists in the winning effort.
USC Trojans Betting Preview
Over on the USC side, they posted a nice 12-1 start over their first 13 games of the season. The Trojans would lose five of the next eight games however, falling to Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Northwestern and Iowa in that time. After wins over Rutgers, Indiana and Penn State came a loss to Ohio State. That gives USC an 18-7 record so far this season.
Last Wednesday in the Ohio State matchup, the Trojans were up by three points 43-40 going into the second half. USC was outscored 49-39 the rest of the way however, leading to a tough loss on the road in the end 89-82. Alijah Arenas was tops in scoring with 25 points and four rebounds. Kam Woods chipped in with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists in the losing effort.
Illinois Fighting Illini @ USC Trojans Betting Trends: February 18, 2026
Why the USC Trojans will win
- The home team has won four of USC’s last five games.
- Illinois has lost three of its last four February night games as an AP-ranked team.
Why the Illinois Fighting Illini will win
- Illinois has won 16 of its last 17 night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
- USC has lost each of its last six night games against AP-ranked opponents.
- USC has lost the first half in 10 of its last 12 games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
Illinois vs USC Prediction
I’ll stick with Illinois. The Illini got back on track Sunday with a win over Indiana. In that matchup, Illinois shot 43.9 percent from the field with a 36-22 rebounding edge, a 40-24 advantage on points in the paint and just two turnovers. The outside shooting (22.6 percent on 7-of-31) wasn’t spectacular, but it hardly mattered in a 20-point victory. Illinois is back in the win column following a pair of overtime losses to Michigan State and Wisconsin. The Illini are scoring very well this year and will be tough to keep pace with.
As for USC, they shot a tepid 41.9 percent from the field in last week’s loss to Ohio State, adding a 27-25 rebounding deficit and 50 percent shooting surrendered on defense. The Trojans have still won three of their last four games though, posting 77 or more points in all four of those outings. I could see USC hanging around in this one if all goes well, but it’ll be a tough matchup.