College Basketball Predictions: UConn vs. St. John’s (Sunday)
Welcome back to another Sunday of college basketball picks and predictions. There are a ton of intriguing matchups on tap today, so let’s get into the top plays before the action tips off.
A Big East showdown featuring UConn vs. St. John’s headlines the picks. Plus, we check out predictions for Arizona State vs. Kansas State in the Big 12 and Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis in the AAC.
Note that all betting lines are accurate as of this writing, but shop around for the best odds. Enjoy these college basketball picks and predictions for Sunday, February 23rd’s game UConn vs. St. John's.
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Sunday’s Best College Basketball Bets: UConn vs. St. John's
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
UConn vs. St. John's (-4.5) | O/U 138.5 (-115/-105)
One of Sunday's biggest games is a Big East battle between UConn and St. John's. The home Red Storm are 14-2 in league play with a two-game lead for first place in the conference. The visiting Huskies, on the other hand, have been up and down all season in their quest for a third straight national title.
Connecticut hasn't exactly looked like the two-time defending champ lately. The Huskies are 6-5 over their last 11 games and have slipped to 36th in the NET Rankings. They lost at Seton Hall last weekend and needed a double-digit second-half comeback to edge Villanova at home on Tuesday.
Despite these two shaky performances, UConn is still a live road underdog at St. John's today. We've recently seen the Huskies' ceiling when they beat both Marquette and Creighton on the road in the past month. The inconsistencies are tough to ignore, but Dan Hurley's squad can beat anyone at its best.
UConn boasts the 15th-best offensive efficiency in the country this season, per KenPom. The offense has gotten a boost lately with the return of future NBA lottery pick Liam McNeeley. The freshman is averaging 21.8 points per game (PPG) over the last four games since returning from an ankle injury. His scoring can be a difference-maker when facing the elite defense of St. John's.
This is a classic revenge spot for Connecticut after losing at home to St. John's a couple of weeks ago. Hurley should have his team motivated to return the favor. Plus, though this is technically a road game for the Huskies, they will have plenty of fans in Madison Square Garden.
On that note, UConn is 7-0 straight up (SU) and 6-1 against the spread (ATS) at MSG in the regular season over the past four years. That includes two straight wins and covers against St. John's in the building. The Huskies are also 4-2 ATS as an underdog this season.
As for St. John's, its struggles in two key areas are bound to cost them. The Red Storm are the worst three-point and free-throw shooting team in the Big East. They also rank 343rd and 301st in the country in three-point and free-throw shooting percentages, respectively. UConn, meanwhile, owns a top-tier interior defense - ranking 12th in two-point defense and second in defensive block rate.
St. John's already can't shoot from the perimeter and could have issues scoring inside in this matchup. The offense may also be without leading scorer and alpha playmaker RJ Luis, who's doubtful to play with a groin injury. There's clear value on Connecticut to keep this close and possibly win outright.
Pick: UConn +4.5 (-102)