UCLA Bruins vs Michigan State Spartans Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 02/17/2026

Game Time: 8:30 pm ET, Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Venue:  Breslin Center, East Lansing, MI

Where to Watch:  Peacock

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  UCLA +7.5, MSU -7.5; Over/Under:  136.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  UCLA +7.5, MSU -7.5; Over/Under:  136.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  UCLA +7.5, MSU -7.5; Over/Under:  136.5 points

UCLA Bruins:  17-8 (9-5) (7th place, Big Ten)

Michigan State Spartans:  20-5 (10-4) (6th place, Big Ten)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Big Al McMordie is on a HOT STREAK in college basketball on a 25-17 CBB RUN for +$6,110 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

UCLA Bruins:  3-2  last 5

Michigan State Spartans:  2-3  last 5

UCLA is entering this game with a 17-8 record overall, a 9-5 record in conference games, and they are 3-4 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Michigan Wolverines in their last game. Trent Perry led the team in points in that game with 14 while Tyler Bilodeau and Donovan Dent each were next on the team with 10. Donovan Dent led the team in assists with 4 in that game while Tyler Bilodeau led the team in rebounds with 6. They were 37.9% from the field, 28.6% from 3-point range, and 50% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 77.9 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 70.5 PPG against them. UCLA has an ATS record of 10-14-1 this season and their O/U record is 12-13.

Michigan State is entering this game with a 20-5 record overall, a 10-4 conference record, and they are 12-2 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Wisconsin Badgers in their last game. Coen Carr led the team in points in that game with 19 while Jeremy Fears Jr. was next on the team with 14. Jeremy Fears Jr. led the team in assists with 12 in that game while Carson Cooper led the team in rebounds with 8. They were 36.4% from the field, 29.6% from 3-point range, and 93.8% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 78.8 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 66.7 PPG against them. Michigan State has an ATS record of 11-12-2 this season and their O/U record is 10-15.

The current betting odds have Michigan State listed as a 7.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Michigan State has looked good in their games this season with their 20-5 record overall and their 10-4 conference record which has them in the top half of the Big Ten. They have looked great on their home court too with their 12-2 home record this season. Meanwhile, UCLA has looked good in their games this season with their 17-8 record overall and their 9-5 conference record which has them in the top half of the Big Ten. They haven't been a great road team though with their 3-4 road record this year. UCLA hasn't looked bad lately as they are 3-2 in their last 5 games, but they are off a big loss to Michigan in their last one and they have struggled against the top opponents in the Big Ten. They have been getting by in the Big Ten by beating up on bad teams and haven't really faced too many of the top opponents until that loss to Michigan which was by 30 points. They showed their true colors in that game though as they don't have the talent to hang with the top of the conference, and they definitely haven't been at their best in road games either. Michigan State hasn't looked that great lately themselves, going 2-3 in their last 5 games and they are off a bad road loss to Wisconsin in their last one too. They haven't been at their best lately, but they have also had a really tough stretch of schedule lately too. They have also looked like a completely different team at home this year and they will be looking to bounce back at home after that terrible performance in their last game. Look for Michigan State to bounce back at home after a tough stretch of schedule and take advantage of the trouble that UCLA has had in road games this year. The best way to place a bet here is on Michigan State to cover the spread in this game. 

UCLA Michigan State Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (8:30 pm ET start time) is Michigan State 80 UCLA 70.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this UCLA Bruins Michigan State Spartans prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NCAAB predictions and previews.

UCLA Bruins: 1-8 ATS versus good rebounding teams - outrebounding opponents by 4+ per game. 1-4 ATS when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 80%). 5-12 ATS vs. good free throw shooting teams - making 72% of their attempts or more. 12-5 UNDER when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 80%). 

Michigan State Spartans: 28-19 ATS in all home games. 8-2 ATS off a road loss against a conference rival. 18-6 ATS after playing a road game. 32-16 UNDER in all home games. 26-14 UNDER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 80%).

UCLA Bruins:  E. Manjikian (F) Questionable - Undisclosed.

Michigan State Spartans:  D. Ugochukwu (G) Out - Foot. K. Glenn (F) Out - Knee.

“We were awful in the second half. I mean we were god awful. We missed eight unguarded threes. Unguarded. If you’re going to come in here and win, you got to score.” - Mick Cronin after his team’s loss against Michigan in their last game. 

"Well, first of all, that was a good, old-fashioned ass-kicking, to be honest with you. And yet, the big thing we wanted to avoid was turning the ball over early, we did a great job of that, and taking away their 3s. Their first three shots I think they hit some 3s, it was kind of downhill after that.” - Tom Izzo after his team’s loss against Wisconsin in their last game. 

T. Bilodeau 

X. Booker 

E. Dailey 

D. Dent 

T. Perry

C. Carr 

C. Cooper 

J. Fears 

J. Kohler 

D. Ugochukwu

PPG: Tyler Bilodeau (17.9)

APG: Donovan Dent (7)

Reb/G: Eric Dailey Jr. (5.6)

PPG: Jeremy Fears Jr. (15.1)

APG: Jeremy Fears Jr. (9.2)

Reb/G: Jaxon Kohler (9.3)

Coaches:

UCLA Bruins: Mick Cronin (7th season)

Michigan State Spartans: Tom Izzo (31st season)