Iowa vs. UCLA Dunkel Predictions & Vegas Odds - Jan. 3

The No. 25 Iowa Hawkeyes (11-2, 1-1 Big Ten) host the UCLA Bruins (10-3, 2-0 Big Ten) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, tipping off at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 3, 2026. The Bruins are 6.5-point underdogs in the game. The matchup has a point total of 137.5.

Last time out, Iowa won on Monday 90-62 over UMass-Lowell. Bennett Stirtz put up 22 points, one rebound and eight assists for Iowa. UCLA won its last matchup 97-65 against UC Riverside on Tuesday. In UCLA's win, Tyler Bilodeau led the way with 34 points (adding six rebounds and one assist).

Iowa vs. UCLA Odds and Game Time

• When: Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 6 p.m. ET
• Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa
• Spread favorite: Iowa -6.5
• Moneyline favorite: Iowa -274
• Moneyline underdog: UCLA +221
• Over/Under: 137.5 points

How to watch Iowa vs. UCLA

• TV Channel: Peacock
• Check out the rest of our Dunkel Index NCAA Basketball Picks!

Betting the Over/Under: Iowa vs. UCLA

• Eight of Iowa's games this season have gone over Saturday's total of 137.5 points.
• There have been eight UCLA games that ended with a combined score higher than 137.5 points this season.
• The point total for the contest of 137.5 is 25.4 points fewer than the combined points per game averages for the Hawkeyes (81.2) and Bruins (81.7).
• This matchup's point total is 8.5 fewer points than the 129 these two teams combine to give up per game in 2024.
• On average, Iowa has seen a 141.3-point over/under in its games this season, 3.8 more points than the over/under in this matchup.
• UCLA's games have an average over/under of 150.6 points this season, 13.1 more points than the over/under for this matchup.

Betting the Spread: Iowa vs. UCLA

• Iowa is 10-3-0 against the spread this season.
• This season, the Hawkeyes have an ATS record of 8-2 in their 10 games as a favorite of 6.5 points or more.
• UCLA has six wins against the spread in 13 games this year.
• The Bruins have been underdogs by 6.5 points or more one time this year and have not covered the spread once.
• At home this year, Iowa is 8-0 overall and 6-2 against the spread.
• Iowa is 6-2 ATS as a 6.5-point favorite or more at home.

Betting the Moneyline: Iowa vs. UCLA

• Iowa has been the moneyline favorite in 11 games this season and picked up the win in all of them.
• The Hawkeyes have been at least a -274 moneyline favorite 10 times this season and won each of those games.
• Iowa has a 73.3% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• UCLA was defeated in both of the match ups it has played as moneyline underdogs this season.
• The Bruins have played as an underdog of +221 or more just one time this year and came away with a loss in that game.
• UCLA has an implied victory probability of 31.2% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.

Dunkel Index Prediction for Iowa vs. UCLA

• Pick ATS: UCLA (+ 6.5)
• Pick OU: Under (137.5)
  
• Prediction: UCLA 66 - Iowa 65