Iowa Hawkeyes vs UCLA Bruins Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 01/17/2025

Game Time: 9:00 pm ET, Friday, January 17, 2025

Venue:  Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA

Where to Watch:  Fox Sports 1

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Iowa +6.5, UCLA -6.5; Over/Under:  154.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Iowa +6.5, UCLA -6.5; Over/Under:  154.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Iowa +6.5, UCLA -6.5; Over/Under:  154.5 points

Iowa Hawkeyes:  12-5 (3-3) (9th place, Big Ten)

UCLA Bruins:  11-6 (2-4) (12th place, Big Ten)

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Iowa Hawkeyes:  3-2  last 5

UCLA Bruins:  1-4  last 5

Iowa is entering this game with a 12-5 record overall, a 3-3 record in conference games, and they are 0-3 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the USC Trojans in their last game. Owen Freeman led the team in points per game in that game with 23 while Payton Sandfort was next on the team with 20. Brock Harding led the team in assists with 8 in that game while Owen Freeman led the team in rebounds with 6. They were 53.3% from the field, 45.8% from 3-point range, and 73.7% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 89.5 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 78 PPG against them. Iowa has an ATS record of 9-8 this season and their O/U record is 11-6.

UCLA is entering this game with an 11-6 record overall, a 2-4 conference record, and they are 8-1 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in their last game. Eric Dailey Jr. and Sebastian Mack each led the team in points in that game with 16 while Kobe Johnson was next on the team with 13. Eric Dailey Jr. and Skyy Clark each led the team in assists with 3 in that game while Tyler Bilodeau led the team in rebounds with 5. They were 42.4% from the field, 31.6% from 3-point range, and 80% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 74.6 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 63.4 PPG against them. UCLA has an ATS record of 9-8 this season and their O/U record is 7-10.

The current betting odds have UCLA listed as a 6.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. UCLA has looked good in their games this season with their 11-6 record overall, but their 2-4 conference record has them in the bottom half of the Big Ten. They were playing really well to start the season and have even been ranked over the last few weeks, but now they have lost 4 conference games in a row as they have been struggling in their new conference. They have looked a lot better on their home court though, going 8-1 in home games this year, so they will be looking to bounce back now that they are back from their road trip. Meanwhile, Iowa has looked good in their games this season with their 12-5 record overall, but their 3-3 conference record has them right in the middle of the Big Ten. They have looked terrible in their road games this year with their 0-3 road record so far and they are coming off a double digit loss to USC in their last one. They have already been struggling in their road games this year, but now they are dealing with the added element of traveling to the West coast and it hasn't really helped the team. UCLA is looking to bounce back after a really rough stretch in the conference and this is a great situation for them to get that win at home. The best way to place a bet here is on UCLA to cover the spread in this game. 

Iowa UCLA Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Friday, January 17, 2025 (9:00 pm ET start time) is UCLA 82 Iowa 67.

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Iowa Hawkeyes: 9-19 ATS as an underdog. 10-16 ATS as a road underdog or pick. 16-23 ATS versus good shooting teams - making 45% of their shots or more. 53-30 OVER in all games. 16-6 OVER as a road underdog or pick. 29-13 OVER when the total is 150 to 159.5.

UCLA Bruins: 5-0 ATS vs. poor rebounding teams - outrebounded by opponents by 4+ per game. 7-3 1H ATS off a road loss. 14-3 1H ATS versus good 3 point shooting teams - making 37% of their attempts. 7-2 OVER after failing to cover the spread in 3 or more consecutive games. 6-3 1H OVER versus poor defensive teams - shooting pct defense of 45% or more.

Iowa Hawkeyes:  None.

UCLA Bruins:  None.

“There’s a lot of reasons for it. We got off to a bad start. They got comfortable. They’re a driving team. I thought our defense was not what it needed to be.” - Fran McCaffery after his team’s loss against USC in their last game. 

“I think we are trying, but here are the facts. We have struggled in Big Ten basketball. Our two wins were against teams we were familiar with playing against. The truth of it is, that Big Ten basketball is different. It’s a much more physical game.” - Mick Cronin on his team playing in the Big Ten this season.

L. Dembele 

J. Dix 

O. Freeman 

B. Harding 

P. Sandfort

D. Andrews 

T. Bilodeau 

S. Clark 

E. Dailey 

K. Johnson

PPG: P. Sandfort (17.1)

APG: B. Harding (6.2)

Reb/G: O. Freeman (6.7)

PPG: T. Bilodeau (14.4)

APG: K. Johnson (3.2)

Reb/G: K. Johnson (5.7)

Coaches:

Iowa Hawkeyes: Fran McCaffery (15th season)

UCLA Bruins: Mick Cronin (6th season)