ESPN's FPI predicts outcome of Iowa-UCLA Week 11 tilt
ESPN’s FPI has projected the winner of Week 11’s contest between Iowa and UCLA on Friday night.
The Hawkeyes and Bruins haven’t played each other in football since 1986, a 45-26 Bruins victory at the Rose Bowl. Now, as Big Ten opponents, they’re set to face each other much more frequently. And ESPN has given Iowa a 68.1 percent chance of victory in this one.
Iowa is 6-3 (4-2 B1G) and looking to put together a strong late-season run beginning with Friday night’s game in Pasadena. The Hawkeyes have won their last two games — 40-14 vs. Northwestern and 42-10 vs. Wisconsin. Kaleb Johnson had a monster performance running the ball, taking 24 carries for 135 yards and 3 touchdowns.
UCLA, meanwhile, picked up a big win at Nebraska, defeating the Cornhuskers 27-20 to improve to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the B1G. Ethan Garbers had a pair of touchdown passes and Kain Medrano had a pick-6 as the Bruins opened up a 27-7 lead with just under 8 and-a-half minutes to play in the third quarter — then held strong against a potential Huskers comeback with a last-season interception.
Kickoff from the Rose Bowl is set for 9 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on FOX. Iowa and UCLA have met on the gridiron just 9 times; UCLA holds a 6-3 lead in the all-time series.