Indiana vs USC Prediction 2/3/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Indiana Hoosiers and the USC Trojans will meet on Tuesday night in a Big Ten Conference matchup at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California.

Indiana Hoosiers Betting Preview

The Indiana Hoosiers enter Tuesday evening’s contest with a 15–7 overall record, including a 6–5 mark in Big Ten play and a 3–4 record on the road. The Hoosiers have compiled wins over Maryland, Washington, Chicago State and the Penn State Nittany Lions, while dropping games to Minnesota, Louisville and the Kentucky Wildcats. More recently, in the Indiana Hoosiers convincing 84–66 victory over the Maryland Terrapins earlier this month, Indiana guard Lamar Wilkerson tallied 24 points (9 of 17 shooting from the field), 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal illustrating his ability to lead the Hoosiers backcourt.

The Indiana Hoosiers average 81.5 points on 47 percent shooting from the field and 35.7 percent shooting from three-point range per game. On the defensive side of the basketball, the Hoosiers are allowing opponents 70.5 points per contest which ranks 74th in the nation.

Senior guard Lamar Wilkerson has been a standout performer for the Indiana Hoosiers in 2025 averaging 19.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists on 44.9 percent shooting from the field per game. Senior guard Tayton Conerway is averaging 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per contest. Senior forward Tucker Devries leads the frontcourt averaging 14.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1 block per game.

USC Trojans Betting Preview

The USC Trojans enter Tuesday’s matchup with a 16–6 record, including a 5–6 mark in Big Ten play and an 8–3 record at home. The Trojans have amassed recent wins over Rutgers, Wisconsin, Maryland and the Minnesota Golden Gophers, while losing games to Iowa, Purdue and the Northwestern Wildcats. Two days ago, in the USC Trojans 78-75 win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, USC forward Jacob Cofie accumulated 15 points (6 of 11 shooting from the field), 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks and 1 steal.

The USC Trojans average 80.5 points on 46.6 percent shooting from the field and 32.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc per contest. Defensively, the Trojans are allowing 75.9 points per contest.

Senior wing Chad Baker‑Mazara leads the USC Trojans averaging 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.3 blocks per game, while forward Ezra Ausar contributes 16.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest. Sophomore forward Jacob Cofie adds 9.9 points and a team leading 7.4 rebounds.

Why the Indiana Hoosiers Will Win

• Conference play. The Indiana Hoosiers have amassed a 6-5 conference record in 2025.

• Backcourt scoring. Guard Lamar Wilkerson leads the Hoosiers in scoring averaging 19.5 points per game.

• Offensive balance. The Indiana Hoosiers average 81.5 points on 47 percent shooting from the field per game.

• Defensive edge. The Hoosiers are allowing opponents 70.5 points per contest which ranks 74th in the nation. Conversely, the Trojans are allowing 75.9 points per contest.

Why the USC Trojans Will Win

• Home court advantage. The USC Trojans are 8–3 at home this season.

• Frontcourt strength. Chad Baker‑Mazara and Ezra Ausar combine for 34.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game providing the Trojans with a strong presence in the paint.

Indiana Hoosiers vs. USC Trojans

This matchup features the Indiana Hoosiers perimeter shooting and recent offensive surge against a USC team that has been stronger at home and owns the more efficient scoring profile. Indiana’s three‑point volume and improved ball movement give the Hoosiers a path to stay competitive, but USC’s home court advantage, interior scoring balance and overall offensive efficiency present a difficult challenge for an Indiana team that has been inconsistent defensively. For the reasons just noted, I am backing the USC Trojans in this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: USC -1.5