College Basketball Odds, Picks, Predictions Today: Will Villanova Upset St. John's?

On Wednesday's college basketball odds board, the No. 9 St. John's Red Storm (21-3, 12-1) square off against the Villanova Wildcats (14-10, 7-6) at the Finneran Pavilion. Only the Johnnies find themselves in my college basketball power rankings, and they opened as 2.5-point road favorites. Let's break down the odds for St. John's at Villanova, including options for your same-game parlay.

Click any odds throughout this article to place a wager. We highly recommend checking out the best sportsbook promos at the best sports betting sites.

st. john's at villanova odds: spread, moneyline, total

college basketball best bets: Villanova ats

St. John's turnaround under Rick Pitino is in full effect. For much of the season, the Red Storm have showcased the top-rated adjusted defensive efficiency (AdjD). They rank fifth in two-point defense (43.4%) and force miscues at the 14th-highest clip.

However, I'll sell high on the Johnnies, which are riding a 10-game winning streak. Villanova is not turnover-prone, unlike their last opponent, two-time defending champion UConn. They also surrender the second-highest open 3-point attempt rate in Big East play — an underlying issue within their ultra-aggressive, switching defense.

In St. John's last two wins against Marquette and UConn, its Big East foes combined for a 29.6% clip from long range.

Enter the Wildcats, which rank fourth in 3-point efficiency (39.9%) in college basketball. Unless Eric Dixon and Co. have an off-shooting night, I expect the Red Storm to undergo defensive regression. in their first meeting on Jan. 11, Villanova shot 38.5% from behind the arc, only to blow a four-point lead with 8:29 remaining and fail to cover the spread (+6.5).

Additionally, Kyle Neptune's squad operates a methodical attack, starkly contrasting Pitino's run-and-gun approach. Generally speaking, limiting the total number of possessions benefits the underdog as long as it's keeping pace offensively.

Injury-wise, combo guard Deivon Smith (shoulder), who boasts the Johnnies' third-highest offensive rating regarding on-off splits, will reportedly miss this game.

With revenge (and their NCAA tournament hopes) at stake, I anticipate the highly motivated Wildcats will keep this one close, at least.

• Related: 5 Things You Missed During NFL Season, Including Eli's Final Four Bet

Final Thoughts

On Wednesday morning, I bet on Villanova +3 (-110), which you'll find on our free sports betting Discord channel. Register for instant notifications on the #roles server. As of this publication, there are still +2.5s available. I recommend waiting to live bet on this game if you cannot snag one.

Good luck with your bets for St. John's at Villanova odds and March Madness odds!

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