The No. 9 ranked St. John's Red Storm take on the Villanova Wildcats in tonight's college hoops action.
The Wildcats need a big win on their resume if they want to keep their March Madness dreams alive, and my St. John's vs Villanova predictions are backing them to get it.
Here are my best college basketball picks for this Big East showdown on Wednesday, February 12.
St. John's vs Villanova prediction
My best bet
Villanova moneyline (+120 at bet365)
My analysis
The St John's Red Storm are riding a 10-game winning streak and have gone 7-3 against the spread during that span. That stretch includes a January 11 clash at home against the Villanova Wildcats, which they won 80-68.
That said, this could be a bit of a letdown spot after beating UConn on the road their last time out. While the Johnnies beat the Wildcats last month, they don't necessarily match up well against 'Nova.
The Wildcats are fresh off an 80-68 win at home against Xavier and they now rank 16th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency. They do a great job of spreading the floor, with every player in their starting lineup capable of knocking down shots from the perimeter. The Wildcats lead all high-major schools in 3-point percentage (39.9%), with that number ticking up 40.9% at home.
While the Johnnies boast a highly-rated defense, they've struggled to defend the arc. They sit outside the Top 150 in opponent 3PT% (33.3%) and outside the Top 300 at allowing high-quality threes per ShotQualityBets. This St. John's D thrives when it can pressure ball-handlers, but the Wildcats turn the ball over at the second-lowest rate in the Big East.
On the other end of the floor, the Johnnies have not been shooting the ball well. They are just 347th in the country in 3PT% (29.1%), with that number dropping to a pathetic 23.4% against Big East foes. They also rank just ninth in the Big East in 2-point percentage (48.8%) during conference play.
The Johnnies rely on buckets in transition to generate points, but 'Nova does a great job of slowing down opposing offenses and limiting fastbreak opportunities.
St. John's vs Villanova same-game parlay (SGP)
Villanova moneyline
Wooga Poplar Over 1.5 threes
Kadary Richmond Over 5.5 rebounds
Wooga Poplar is averaging 2.1 threes per game at home while knocking them down at a sizzling 41% clip. The senior guard is coming off a game against Xavier where he went 5-for-9 from deep, and he'll look to take advantage of St. John's inability to close down outside shooters.
The Wildcats have struggled on the glass lately, with their rebounding rate sitting at 47.4% over their last three games. Meanwhile, Richmond has eclipsed 5.5 rebounds in five straight games, averaging 7.6 rpg over that span.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game CBB moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your school goes up by 18+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
St. John's vs Villanova odds
St. John's vs Villanova live odds
St. John's vs Villanova opening odds
- Spread: St. John's -2.5 | Villanova +2.5
- Moneyline: St. John's -155 | Villanova +130
- Over/Under: Over 138.5 | Under 138.5
Odds courtesy of bet365
St. John's vs Villanova betting trend to know
The first half Under has cashed in just three of the Johnnies' last 14 road games (-8.20 Units / -52% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for St. John's vs. Villanova.
How to watch St. John's vs Villanova
| Location | The William B. Finneran Pavilion, Villanova, PA |
| Date | Wednesday, 2-12-2025 |
| Tip-off | 6:00 p.m. ET |
| TV |
FS1 |
St. John's vs Villanova key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
