Friday, Nov. 8
9 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. Pacific
Fox
The Iowa Hawkeyes entered this season with a chance to do something special, but it was less a product of the roster the Hawkeyes assembled and more a product of the Hawkeyes’ schedule. Iowa had one of the easier schedules in the Big Ten. Iowa did not have to play Oregon or Penn State. We have seen a few teams rise due to having favorable schedules and taking advantage of them. Miami in the ACC is one very conspicuous and strong example. Texas A&M in the SEC is another. Iowa hoped to be one of those teams which could turn a manageable path into a New Year’s Six bowl at worst, and maybe even a spot in the College Football Playoff.
It hasn’t happened. The Hawkeyes have lost three games, which basically puts them on the outside looking in. The best Iowa can do at this point is 9-3, and that requires winning each of its three remaining games in November. This Friday night, Iowa goes to the Rose Bowl Stadium to face the UCLA Bruins. Iowa lost to UCLA in the 1986 Rose Bowl Game. The Hawkeyes hope this result is different, albeit in a game which doesn’t have the same high stakes as the Granddaddy nearly 40 years ago.
Iowa Hawkeyes-UCLA Bruins Odds
Spread: Iowa -4.5 (-115), UCLA +4.5 (-105)
Total: 44.5 (Over -110, Under -110)
Underdog moneyline: UCLA +162
UCLA primed for another possible home Big Ten win?
The UCLA Bruins have been better than expected. Coach DeShaun Foster has done a good job developing a team with a relatively low ceiling. UCLA is not particularly talented, but the Bruins have stayed the course and played with great intensity and effort in recent wins over Rutgers and Nebraska. The win last week in Lincoln was a real shocker. Nebraska was on the verge of clinching bowl eligibility. The Huskers had just pushed Ohio State to the limit the week before in a narrow four-point defeat on the road in Columbus.
UCLA’s offense was surprisingly good against the Huskers. As a touchdown underdog, UCLA won by seven points and dealt NU a stinging 27-20 setback. Get this: UCLA’s three wins this season have all come on the road. In that regard and in some other ways as well, the Bruins have exceeded expectations.
In this game against Iowa, UCLA covering the spread would require another surprisingly good offensive performance. Iowa not only has a solid defense which kept Wisconsin under wraps last week; the Hawkeyes seem to have figured out a few things at the quarterback spot. Brendan Sullivan has juiced up the Iowa offense in ways Cade McNamara was unable to do. The switch to Sullivan has given Iowa more upside and potency. This added dimension for the Iowa offense gives us reason to think that Iowa will cover the spread against UCLA.