Villanova vs St. John’s Predictions and Odds (Jan. 20)

• Villanova and St. John’s meet in a Big East game on Friday, January 20.
• St. John’s is a 4.5-point home favorite over the Wildcats at Madison Square Garden.
• Read below for Villanova vs St. John’s odds, analysis and prediction.

St. John’s  (13-6, 3-5 Big East) is a 4.5-point home favorite over Villanova in a Big East game at 7 pm ET on FS1 at Madison Square Garden. The Red Storm has won two in a row following a five-game skid that began with a loss at Villanova on Dec. 21.

Villanova (9-10, 3-5 Big East) has lost five of its last seven under first-year coach Kyle Neptune. The Wildcats’ only victories in that stretch are against Georgetown, including a 77-73 home win the last time out Sunday.

Villanova vs St. John’s Odds

Odds from FanDuel on Jan. 19. Claim the FanDuel promo code. 

St. John’s is a 4.5-point favorite over Villanova in a series in which the Wildcats have held the upper hand. Villanova has won five in a row and seven of the last eight in the series but is only 3-4-1 ATS in that stretch. The Wildcats won the first meeting this season 78-63 as a five-point home favorite in their league opener. Villanova is 3-2 SU and 1-3-1 in its last five visits to St. John’s. The Red Storm pushed as a six-point underdog in a 75-69 home loss last season and covered as a 9.5-point underdog in a 70-59 home victory in 2021.

St. John’s is 9-10 ATS this season, 4-7 at home. Villanova has been a go-against, going 6-13 ATS, 3-4 on the road. The total has gone over in 11 of the Wildcats’ 19 games. The over is 10-8-1 when St. John’s plays.

Villanova Fading Quickly

The post-Jay Wright era has come with hiccups for new coach Kyle Neptune and a veteran group that includes returning starters guard Caleb Daniels (16.6 points) and forwards Eric Dixon (16.3 points, 6.4 rebounds) and Brandon Slater (10.9, 5.2). The Wildcats have lost three of their last four, including to bottom-feeders Butler and DePaul on the road. They overcame a six-point deficit in the final eight minutes in their latest victory over Georgetown, when 6’8 Dixon’s block at one end and three-point play at the other gave ‘Nova  broke a tie with 61 seconds left.

𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗰. 𝗗𝗶𝘅𝗼𝗻.@NovaMBB x #BIGEASThoops pic.twitter.com/klkpAXZHau

— BIG EAST MBB (@BIGEASTMBB) January 16, 2023

Freshman 6’7 forward Cam Whitmore (13.1, 5.0) is projected as a borderline lottery pick in the 2022-23 NBA draft, although the Wildcats are only 2-4 in his starts. He had eight points and 10 rebounds in the first meeting with St. John’s. Dixon 18 points and six rebounds in the first matchup.

Villanova is among the Division I leaders in fewest turnovers (10.3 per game), although that is a function of its deliberate pace. The Wildcats lead Division I in free throw percentage (83.4) but are are in middle of the pack in most other stats and are not the defensive force as in previous years.

St. John’s Betting Trends

Senior big man 6’11 Joel Soriano has taken a major step forward in his second season at St. John’s. Soriano leads the Red Storm in scoring (16.5 points per game) and rebounding (12.1), more than doubling his numbers from a year ago, and has added a mid-range jumper to his game. Soriano and national player of the favorite Zach Edey are the only Division I players averaging at least 16/12. Soriano leads Division I with 16 double-doubles, one more than Edey.

#CollegeHoops Uneven season for St John's but a special one for Joel Soriano w/ his 15th double-double vs Butler. D Anchor, roll-man, post play & even jumpers of late

Exciting matchup vs Adama Sanogo tomorrow… Who's the Beast from the East?#BIGEASThoops #SJUBB #CBBGlobal pic.twitter.com/9FYieXC7q5

— MaceoBaller (@MaceoBaller16) January 14, 2023

The Johnnies will run. Mike Anderson’s team is second in KenPom in adjusted tempo, averaging 74.3 possessions per game. Point guard Posh Alexander (9.7 points, 4.1 assists),  streaky Illinois transfer guard Andre Curbelo (10.5 points, 50 assists) and DePaul transfer forward David Jones (13.0 points, 6.7 rebounds) contribute.

Alexander averages 2.3 steals per game, 16th in Division I. Physical 6’4 Dylan Addae-Wusu has started for Curbelo in the last five games and Jones has lost minutes recently. Starter 6’4 Montez Mathis (9.6 points) has missed the last three games with a toe injury, and his status is unknown.

Villanova vs St. John’s Prediction

The game marks an interesting clash of styles. St. John’s looks to run at all times while Villanova prefers a slower pace. St. John’s, which plays its home games at Carnesecca Arena on campus, will play the first of four scheduled games at Madison Square Garden, which gives the game a bigger feel. The Johnnies have failed to cover only one of the last five in the series, and there is no reason to buck that against a Villanova team that is in a rut.

• Pick: St. John’s -4.5 (-110)
• Season CBK record: 23-11 ATS