Saturday CBB Best Bets Feb. 7: Can Illinois win 13 straight games?

Saturday features a stacked college basketball slate with several mid-major teams and a boatload of high-major schools taking the floor on the seventh day of February 2026. Will #5 Illinois cover at the Breslin Center in East Lansing against #10 Michigan State in a Big Ten clash on Saturday night? Can #8 Houston cover a tough game against #16 BYU as small road favorites? Read on for our Saturday CBB Best Bets Feb. 7 article.

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CBB Best Bet: Illinois +1.5 over Michigan State

I like the Fighting Illini here. Illinois is poised to cover the 1.5-point spread and win outright because of their elite road identity. The Illini have been a stellar 5-1 ATS as the road team and 3-1 ATS as an underdog this season, proving they thrive in hostile environments. Their reliability extends to Big Ten play with an 8-4 ATS conference record, while an 11-8 ATS mark after a win shows they can handle sustained success. Expect Illinois to maintain their momentum and out-execute a struggling Spartan squad in the final minutes. Final score projection: ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI 78, MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS 74.

CBB Best Bet: Houston -1.5 over BYU

I’m backing Houston in this one. Houston is primed to cover the 1.5-point spread by leveraging their superior efficiency and preparation. Kelvin Sampson’s squad has been remarkably consistent, posting a 12-7 ATS record after a win and a dominant 9-3 ATS mark when playing on 2 or 3 days of rest this year, suggesting they capitalize on short turnarounds. Houston’s #2 scoring defense travels well, evidenced by a 3-1 ATS record as the road team and a stout 7-2 ATS conference record this season. Expect Houston’s physicality to stifle the BYU offense, allowing them to pull away late in a tough environment. Final score projection: HOUSTON COUGARS 74, BYU COUGARS 66.