Iowa Hawkeyes vs UCLA Bruins NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/17/25
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Hawkeyes and Bruins. The game is starting at 9:00 ET on FS1, and it’s hosted by the Bruins at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA. Get ready to place your bets! This Big Ten conference matchup has an over/under of 154.5 points, and UCLA is favored to win by -7 at home vs. Iowa.
IOWA HAWKEYES VS UCLA BRUINS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Iowa Hawkeyes +7
This game will be played at Pauley Pavilion at 9:00 ET on Friday, January 17th.
WHY BET THE IOWA HAWKEYES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-72 in favor of the Bruins.
- Even though we have UCLA winning straight-up, we like Iowa at +7.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 154.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.
Do the Hawkeyes Have What it Takes on the Road?
Iowa Hawkeyes Recent Game/Games
The Hawkeyes dropped to 12-5 on the season after a 99-89 road loss to USC on Tuesday. Entering the game as +3 underdogs, Iowa failed to cover the spread. The combined points of 188 exceeded the O/U line of 161.5.
Iowa found themselves in a 48-32 hole at halftime but managed to score 57 points in the 2nd half. However, they couldn’t tighten up defensively, allowing 51 points after the break.
In their last game, the Hawkeyes put up 89 points, shooting 53.3% from the field and 45.8% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 63.3%, with 20 assists and just 4 offensive rebounds.
Desmond Claude led the way with 25 points and 9 assists, while Saint Thomas added 24 points on 9-of-10 shooting, hitting 3 of 4 from deep. Owen Freeman contributed 23 points, shooting 11-of-14 from the field.
Despite Iowa’s defensive efforts, they allowed 99 points on 64% shooting from the field. The opposing team made 37 of their 57 shots, including a strong performance inside the arc, where they hit 27 of 42 two-point attempts.
From three-point range, the opposition connected on 10 of 15 shots, shooting 66%. They also went to the free-throw line 25 times, making 15. Iowa gave up 9 offensive rebounds in the game.
Is A Home Victory Likely for the Favored Bruins?
UCLA Bruins Recent Game/Games
UCLA fell to 11-6 on the season after a 75-68 road loss to Rutgers on Monday. The Bruins were favored by 4 points but failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 143, going over the pre-game line of 137.5.
UCLA led 33-30 at halftime but struggled defensively in the second half, allowing 45 points while scoring 35. Their inability to contain Rutgers after the break was a key factor in the loss.
UCLA put up 68 points in their last game, shooting 42.4% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 47.5%. They hit 31.6% from beyond the arc, connecting on 6 of 19 attempts, while shooting 47.5% on two-pointers. At the free-throw line, they were efficient, making 12 of 15 for an 80% success rate.
Ace Bailey led the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 53.8% from the field. Dylan Harper added 18 points and 4 assists, despite shooting just 38.5%. Eric Dailey Jr. and Sebastian Mack each contributed 16 points, with Dailey shooting 53.3% and Mack hitting 50% of his shots. Kobe Johnson was efficient, shooting 62.5% and hitting 2 of 4 from three-point range.
UCLA’s defense gave up 75 points, with their opponents shooting 46% from the field. They allowed 18 two-point baskets on 32 attempts, a 56% success rate.
From beyond the arc, UCLA’s defense held their opponents to 6 threes on 20 attempts, a 30% shooting percentage. They also sent the opposing team to the free-throw line 31 times, where they made 21 free throws, shooting 67%. UCLA allowed 11 offensive rebounds.