St. John's vs. UConn Men: Picks, Predictions and Odds

Friday night delivers a must-watch Big East showdown between No. 12 St. John's (20-3, 11-1 Big East) and No. 19 UConn (16-6, 8-3 Big East) at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT. 

With tip-off set for 8 PM ET on FOX, this clash pits St. John's, a team that thrives on physicality, rebounding and defense, against UConn, who excels with precise offensive execution, efficient three-point shooting and reliable free-throw performance. 

Both teams enter fresh off victories over No. 11 Marquette, with UConn overcoming 25 turnovers to secure a 77-69 road win on Saturday and St. John's grinding out a 70-64 victory at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

With a game expected to be tight until the final buzzer, let's get into the picks and predictions.

St. John's vs. UConn betting picks and predictions

UConn -1.5 (-110)

At first glance, St. John's profile as a road warrior is almost irresistible. Almost.

Rick Pitino's squad boasts the ninth-best away-from-home rating per Haslametrics and has dominated recent road games, securing double-digit wins at Xavier, Seton Hall and Georgetown.

UConn presents a step up in competition. The Huskies are well-rested, having not played since their road win over Marquette last Saturday, while St. John's is on a quicker turnaround after its Tuesday night battle against the Golden Eagles. Fatigue and limited preparation could become factors for the Red Storm.

Matchup-wise, UConn holds several key advantages. St. John's offensive strength lies in second-chance points, ranking 12th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (37.5 percent). UConn's front line, anchored by Samson Johnson, Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban, is equipped to at least hold the Red Storm at bay in this department and keep it from being a decisive factor in St. John's favor. 

The Huskies allow just 45.4 percent shooting inside the arc (20th nationally), making it difficult for St. John's to convert its high volume of two-point attempts (52 percent of total points from two).

Additionally, UConn's offense presents a unique challenge for St. John's. The Huskies rank 10th in offensive efficiency and shoot 37 percent from beyond the arc (47th nationally), led by Solo Ball's scorching 45.6 percent three-point shooting while averaging 6.7 attempts per game.

The Red Storm defend the paint exceptionally well (sixth nationally in two-point defense), but their perimeter defense is more vulnerable, allowing the national average in three-point attempts and a 34 percent mark from deep. 

With UConn sharpshooter Liam McNeeley set to return in his first game since New Year's Day, the Huskies gain another three-point threat (38 percent from deep) to stretch and space the floor and exploit a St. John's defense that flies around and double teams entries inside the arc, which occasionally leaves them susceptible to open looks from three. 

Much like Marquette did, we expect St. John's to force UConn turnovers and flip defense into easy offense. But even in the face of 25 turnovers, UConn beat Marquette by eight in their building, thanks to efficient shooting. 

Despite St. John's experience, physicality, rebounding, defensive prowess and coaching edge, UConn's rest, depth and severe shooting advantage should prove decisive. If it comes down to free throws or clutch shooting, UConn has the advantage over a Red Storm squad shooting just 68.7 percent from the line and 29.6 percent from three (335th in NCAA).

Expect a battle, but UConn pulls away late for the home win and cover.

Over 140.5 Total Points (-110)

While this matchup features a clash of styles, the offensive efficiency of both teams suggests value on the Over.

St. John's ranks 15th nationally in pace, pushing the tempo and forcing opponents into quick decisions. Conversely, UConn plays a deliberate offensive style (327th in pace) but compensates with elite shot-making and floor spacing.

The result? A game that should see enough possessions to clear this total.

The key factor for the Over lies in UConn's ability to exploit St. John's defensive vulnerabilities. While the Red Storm are an elite defensive unit (fourth in defensive efficiency), they allow a high percentage of points from beyond the arc and struggle to limit open perimeter looks.

UConn ranks 80th in three-point attempts per game and has the shooters to capitalize. Expect Ball, Karaban and McNeeley to fire from deep, opening up driving lanes and secondary scoring opportunities.

On the other side, St. John's success hinges on offensive rebounding and transition play. The Red Storm struggle in half-court sets but excel at turning defense into offense, ranking 19th in defensive turnover rate. If they can disrupt UConn's offense and create easy scoring chances, they'll contribute enough to keep pace.

Despite UConn's strong interior defense, the Red Storm generate 60.1 percent of their points inside the arc and should find success on second-chance opportunities.

Ultimately, even if St. John's struggles to hit outside shots, their ability to crash the boards and get putbacks should keep them from stalling out. UConn, meanwhile, should be able to score efficiently enough against a defense that struggles to defend the three.

A close game late also increases the likelihood of free throws, further pushing the total Over 140.5 points.

Read the latest College Basketball betting picks and predictions on site.

St. John's vs. UConn odds

St. John's	+105 ML
UConn	-125 ML
Spread	UConn -1.5
Total Points	O/U 140.5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.