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Basketball fans, get ready for a thrilling slate of NCAA men’s action on February 18, 2026. Three marquee matchups are set to light up the college hoops world, featuring some of the nation’s top teams and players. Here's a deep dive into what makes each game a must-watch.
First up, the BYU Cougars head to the desert to take on the Arizona Wildcats. The Cougars, ranked #20, are looking to upset the #3 Wildcats in a game that promises plenty of fireworks. Arizona is favored to win with a 54% probability according to our simulation, which predicts a close contest ending 82.5 to 79.2 in Arizona's favor.
Leading BYU's charge is AJ Dybantsa, who’s expected to score 19.6 points and grab 5.7 rebounds. Alongside him, Richie Saunders and Robert Wright III will need to be at their best against a formidable Arizona defense. Arizona’s Brayden Burries, predicted to score 14.4 points, and Motiejus Krivas, with a projected 7.1 rebounds, will be key in maintaining their home court dominance. The Vegas odds have Arizona favored by 11.5, but BYU's dynamic offense might have something to say about that.
In the SEC, Arkansas travels to face Alabama in a top-25 clash that could shake up conference standings. Arkansas, ranked #19, is slightly favored with a 54% chance to win according to our model, which forecasts a high-scoring affair with a predicted score of 87.1 to 84.3.
Darius Acuff Jr. is set to lead the Razorbacks with a predicted stat line of 19.7 points and 7.2 assists. His ability to distribute the ball effectively will be crucial in exploiting Alabama’s defense. On the Alabama side, Labaron Philon Jr. is expected to counter with 16.2 points, while Aden Holloway aims to provide support with his 3.5 assists. The Razorbacks’ edge on the boards, led by Trevon Brazile’s 8.3 rebounds, might just tilt this nail-biter in their favor.
Finally, we have a classic Big Ten versus Pac-12 showdown as the #4 Illinois Fighting Illini visit the USC Trojans. Illinois is favored to win with a 60% probability and a predicted final score of 81.6 to 73.3, according to our simulations.
Keaton Wagler is expected to be the linchpin for Illinois, with anticipated contributions of 16.8 points and 5.1 rebounds. His dynamic playmaking will be supported by Kylan Boswell and David Mirkovic, who are projected to dominate the boards with 8.0 rebounds. USC will look to Rodney Rice to keep them competitive, with his projected 12.7 points and 4.2 assists likely playing a crucial role in the Trojans' strategy to pull off an upset.
These matchups are more than just games; they’re battles for conference supremacy and national rankings. The outcomes could set the tone for the rest of the season for these teams.
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