Iowa vs UCLA College Basketball Prediction, Odds, Picks, Best Bets for Jan. 3

The Iowa Hawkeyes (11-2, 1-1 Big Ten) will attempt to extend a three-game winning streak when they host the UCLA Bruins (10-3, 2-0 Big Ten) on January 3, 2026. The Bruins have also won three games in a row.

Before you place your bet on this matchup at FanDuel Sportsbook, here are the NCAA basketball odds and spreads you need to know.

Iowa vs. UCLA Game Info and Odds

• Game day: Saturday, January 3, 2026
• Game time: 6 p.m. ET
• TV channel: Peacock
• Location: Iowa City, Iowa
• Arena: Carver-Hawkeye Arena

Before you bet on Saturday's Iowa-UCLA spread (Iowa -6.5) or total (136.5 points), read the betting trends and insights below.

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Iowa vs. UCLA: ATS Betting Stats and Trends

• Iowa has compiled a 10-3-0 ATS record so far this year.
• UCLA has covered five times in 13 matchups with a spread this year.
• Iowa covers the spread when it is a 6.5-point favorite or more 80% of the time. That's more often than UCLA covers as an underdog of 6.5 or more (never covered this season).
• The Hawkeyes did a better job covering the spread at home (7-11-0) last season than they did in road affairs (3-7-0).
• Last year, the Bruins were 12-5-0 at home against the spread (.706 winning percentage). On the road, they were 5-5-0 ATS (.500).

Iowa vs. UCLA: Moneyline Betting Stats

• Iowa has yet to lose any of the eight games it has been chosen as the moneyline favorite in this season.
• The Hawkeyes have not lost in seven games this year when favored by -275 or better on the moneyline.
• UCLA has been the moneyline underdog just two other times so far this season, and it lost both games.
• The Bruins have played as a moneyline underdog of +220 or longer in just one game this season, which they lost.
• Iowa has an implied victory probability of 73.3% according to the moneyline set by sportsbooks for this matchup.

Iowa vs. UCLA Head-to-Head Comparison

• Iowa outscores opponents by 21.1 points per game (scoring 81.2 per game to rank 109th in college basketball while allowing 60.1 per contest to rank fourth in college basketball) and has a +275 scoring differential overall.
• Bennett Stirtz's team-leading 17.1 points per game ranks 117th in the nation.
• UCLA puts up 81.7 points per game (97th in college basketball) while allowing 68.9 per contest (83rd in college basketball). It has a +166 scoring differential and outscores opponents by 12.8 points per game.
• Tyler Bilodeau's 19.0 points per game leads UCLA and ranks 51st in the nation.
• The Hawkeyes come out on top in the rebound battle by an average of 3.3 boards. They are collecting 28.5 rebounds per game (335th in college basketball) compared to their opponents' 25.2 per contest.
• Cam Manyawu's 4.6 rebounds per game lead the Hawkeyes and rank 758th in college basketball action.
• The 29.5 rebounds per game the Bruins accumulate rank 317th in the country. Their opponents grab 28.7.
• Eric Dailey Jr. tops the Bruins with 5.6 rebounds per game (395th in college basketball).
• Iowa's 113.5 points per 100 possessions on offense rank seventh in college basketball, and the 83.9 points it allows per 100 possessions rank 39th in college basketball.
• The Bruins' 105.9 points per 100 possessions on offense rank 49th in college basketball, and the 89.3 points they concede per 100 possessions rank 111th in college basketball.

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