USC vs UCLA Preview, Odds, Predictions (Feb. 24)

• The Trojans have lost their last three games in league play.
• The Bruins are coming off an upset win over Illinois.
• This marks the 265th all-time matchup between the two Big Ten squads.

Basketball fans in the West Coast are in for a treat when the classic rivalry between the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins commences to cap off the Feb. 24 slate. The hosts stand tall as the solid favorite, paving the way for an interesting showdown between the in-state foes.

How to Watch

• When: Tuesday, Feb. 24, 11 pm ET
• Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, California
• How to Watch: FS1

NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines

Game Preview

The Trojans (18-9, 7-9 Big Ten) suffered a big dip in league play, suffering three consecutive losses to Ohio State, Illinois and Oregon. This puts them in a tough spot as the team now find itself in the lower bracket of the conference standings. Chad Baker-Mazara leads the squad with averages of 18.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Jacob Cofie could be valuable inside the paint for this matchup. He is producing 10 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.1 steals per contest as the team’s best shot-blocker.

The Bruins (18-9, 10-6 Big Ten) regained some of their form after suffering blowout losses to then-No. 1 Michigan and then-No. 15 Michigan State. They defended homecourt in their last matchup, stunning ranked Illinois with a game-winning shot from Donovan Dent. He made history in that game, becoming the fourth UCLA player to have recorded 15 or more assists in a game (15 assists, no turnovers). On the other hand, Tyler Bilodeau leads the Big Ten in 3-point shooting percentage (45.6%, 52-for-114). He is averaging 18.6 points and six rebounds in the Bruins’ last 10 games, showing impressive form with his scoring consistency.

USC vs UCLA Head-to-Head

The two programs have had 264 meetings in their history, and the result is 148-116 for the Bruins. The last matchup was in March 2025 when UCLA won 90-63 in overtime at home.

USC vs UCLA Predictions

It will be intriguing to see how both squads approach each other to begin the game. UCLA has the homecourt advantage so USC will have to figure how to start strong against a hostile crowd. Most importantly, they must keep Donovan Dent from exploding with a big scoring performance. Otherwise, their chances of pulling off an upset becomes slimmer. Our betting pick here is the Bruins to defend a 7-point spread.

• Free NCAAB pick: UCLA Bruins -7