Iowa vs. UCLA prediction: College football picks, best bets, odds Friday

On Friday night, UCLA hosts Iowa successful what should beryllium a fascinating Big Ten battle.

This will beryllium nan first gathering betwixt these teams since nan 1986 Rose Bowl erstwhile UCLA won, 45-28.

The Hawkeyes person won 3 of their past 4 games acknowledgment to a resurgent offense, while nan Bruins are riding a two-game roadworthy winning streak backmost to Los Angeles.

Iowa vs. UCLA odds

(9 p.m. ET, FOX)

When Iowa has nan ball

In Tim Lester’s first twelvemonth arsenic Iowa’s violative coordinator, nan Hawkeyes person 1 of nan astir improved offenses successful nan country.

After scoring conscionable 15.4 points per crippled past year, nan second-worst successful nan FBS, Iowa ranks 45th pinch 30.8 points per crippled this year.

The cardinal has been nan play of moving backmost Kaleb Johnson, who ranks 2nd successful nan FBS pinch 1,279 rushing yards and first pinch 20 rushing touchdowns.

At quarterback, erstwhile Northwestern transportation Brendan Sullivan will get his 2nd commencement for Iowa arsenic Cade McNamara remains retired pinch a concussion.

Sullivan hasn’t logged a turnover-worthy play connected 37 dropbacks this twelvemonth and he gives nan Hawkeyes a different magnitude pinch his rushing ability. UCLA ranks 131st successful nan state successful PFF’s walk unreserved grades, truthful expect a cleanable pouch for Sullivan to activity with.

Overall, nan Hawkeyes should find success, whether connected nan crushed aliases done nan air. UCLA ranks 116th successful points per thrust allowed and 122nd successful wide protect occurrence rate.

With upwind not expected to play a domiciled successful this game, expect Iowa’s discourtesy to proceed humming.

When UCLA has nan ball

After facing a sadistic schedule earlier this play that included Indiana, LSU, Oregon and Penn State, UCLA was somewhat undervalued successful nan market.

The Bruins are 3-0 against nan dispersed (ATS) successful their past 3 games, including 2 outright wins connected nan roadworthy complete Rutgers and Nebraska. Ethan Garbers is playing his champion shot of nan play — complete nan past 2 games, he’s thrown for 602 yards pinch six touchdowns and zero interceptions.

The Bruins’ violative statement remains a sore spot — according to PFF, they rank sub-100th nationally successful some tally and pass-blocking.

Kwazi Gilmer has played good precocious for UCLA. SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

That’s resulted successful nan UCLA discourtesy ranking 107th successful early downs EPA/play, mounting up nan 91st-ranked mean third-down distance. That could create problems for Garbers against an Iowa defense that ranks 25th successful pass-rush and 5th successful coverage.

UCLA lacks accomplishment position talent, and its moving backs person exceeded 50 yards successful a crippled conscionable erstwhile each season. Iowa ranks 13th successful tally defense EPA, truthful it’s reliable to ideate that changing.

Freshman wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer has been a breakout talent, catching a 48-yard touchdown against Nebraska past week, but this isn’t an imposing wide receiver room.

Iowa vs. UCLA prediction

If your marketplace offers assemblage shot subordinate props, I’d see nan complete connected sophomore tight extremity Zach Ortwerth’s yards.

Starters Luke Lachey and Addison Ostrenga person missed clip pinch injuries, and Ortwerth has flashed awesome talent, catching 3 passes for 66 yards past week. He seems to person awesome chemistry pinch Sullivan arsenic well.

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I expect Iowa to proceed its violative occurrence nether nan Friday nighttime lights, and I thin toward them covering nan spread.

However, my favourite stake successful this crippled is Iowa’s squad full complete 26.5 points. The Hawkeyes person scored 40-plus points successful 3 of their past 4 games and person averaged 38.5 points successful wins this season.

With nan Hawkeyes installed arsenic roadworthy favorites, stake connected their discourtesy continuing to people points Friday.

Best Bet: Iowa Team Total Over 26.5 Points (-115, DraftKings)

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Jacob Wayne handicaps assemblage shot and nan NFL for nan New York Post. He’s up 84.5 units crossed nan 2 sports pinch a 6.27% ROI.