The St. John's Red Storm and Villanova Wildcats will meet in a Big East affair, with the Johnnies perhaps starting to turn a corner in their season.
After going from the preseason top 10 to out of the top 25, it seems the Red Storm have settled in. They'll enter this matchup as winners of five of their last six, with plenty of momentum.
They'll look to continue that momentum here, but it won't be easy against a Villanova team that is playing really good basketball.
I break it all down in my Villanova vs. St John's predictions and college basketball picks for Saturday, January 17.
St. John's vs Villanova prediction
St. John's vs Villanova best bet: Over 149.5 (-110)
My best bet here is Over 149.5, and it's rooted in how cleanly these two profiles align.
Yes, the tempos contrast, with the Villanova Wildcats playing at one of the slowest paces in the country. But I suspect both defenses struggling in the same areas where the other offense excels leads to this game being played more on the St. John's Red Storms' terms.
St. John's offense is built around rim attacks, transition, and second-chance scoring with a chaotic, big, athletic lineup.
Those are the highest-frequency areas you'll find when evaluating them, and it immediately flags an edge against a Villanova defense that's most vulnerable on the defensive glass and in broken possessions.
When St. John's misses, Zuby Ejiofor and Dillon Mitchell turn those misses into second chances, and that's exactly what you want when betting an Over.
You don't need great jump shooting; you just need the offense to hold its form and keep generating extra possessions.
Villanova's side of the equation is different but just as crucial. Their offense lives in attack-and-kick and dribble creation, with multiple players capable of creating their own shot.
That lines up against a St. John's defense that concedes once the ball gets moved side to side and the defense is stretched. The Red Storm can be a menace when the pressure is on, but they're exploitable in one-on-ones in the half-court.
Acaden Lewis can give Nova enough ball security to consistently reach those actions, even if they're playing slower than their opponent.
The key is that both teams score efficiently in the areas they emphasize most, and both defenses concede in those same areas, which keeps 149.5 in reach even if the pace isn't perfectly aligned.
I'd play this to 152.
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St. John's vs Villanova same-game parlay
Over 149.5
Zuby Ejiofor Over 2.5 assists
Zuby Ejiofor Over 15.5 points
I'm backing Zuby Ejiofor to have a huge impact in this game.
Villanova’s struggles on the defensive glass and in scramble situations put Ejiofor in prime position for efficient paint touches and put-backs, while the attention he draws inside naturally creates open opportunities for kick-outs and dump-offs, supporting his assist potential.
Our beyond the arc SGP: Storm's Brewing
Over 149.5
Zuby Ejiofor Over 2.5 assists
Zuby Ejiofor Over 15.5 points
St. John's moneyline
My long shot pick is St. John’s to get the win — a wager based on both current form and overall talent.
The Johnnies have been playing much better recently, and the numbers back it up. Looking at the Torvik ratings from January alone, Villanova flips from favorite to underdog.
I expect that form to hold and for St. John’s talent advantage to prevail late in the game.
St. John's vs Villanova odds
- Spread: St. John's -1 (-110) | Villanova +1 (-110)
- Moneyline: St. John's -130 | Villanova +110
- Over/Under: Over 149.5 (-110) | Under 149.5 (-110)
St. John's vs Villanova betting trend to know
St. John's has hit the 1H moneyline in 27 of its last 35 games (+14.20 Units / 2% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for St. John's vs. Villanova.
How to watch St. John's vs Villanova
| Location | Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA |
| Date | Saturday, January 17, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Peacock |
St. John's vs Villanova key injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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