St John’s vs DePaul Picks, Predictions & Best Bets (Feb 3)

• The No. 22 Red Storm look to maintain a perfect 5-0 road record against a DePaul team that is 10-3 at Wintrust Arena
• Our analysis highlights a massive interior mismatch for Zuby Ejiofor, driving a high-confidence player prop selection
• Sharp money is hitting the Under, banking on St. John’s elite rim protection to stifle DePaul’s offense

The No. 22 St. John’s Red Storm aim to extend their seven-game winning streak tonight in a Big East showdown at DePaul. Tip-off is set for 8 pm, ET (Peacock).

St. John’s (16-5, 9-1 Big East) is 5-0 in true road games. DePaul (12-10, 4-7 Big East) enters as the underdog, hoping to snap a two-game skid and defend a respectable 10-3 home record.

Our St. John’s vs. DePaul analysis dives into the distinct angles for bettors evaluating momentum against home-court splits.

St. John’s vs DePaul Best Bets & Expert Predictions

Here is the strategic breakdown for this Big East matchup.

Spread Prediction: St. John’s -9.5 at FanDuel

The Play: St. John’s to cover the spread (Play up to -9.5)

The defining metric for this handicap is St. John’s efficiency away from home. The Red Storm are 5-0 straight up in true road games, a testament to their ability to execute in hostile environments. While DePaul has defended its home floor well (10-3), the disparity in frontcourt talent suggests the Blue Demons will be outmatched in the trenches.

St. John’s anchors its attack with Zuby Ejiofor, the conference’s premier interior presence. Ejiofor is averaging 15.7 points and 7.38 rebounds per game on 53.1% shooting, providing a physical edge DePaul cannot replicate. DePaul’s defensive anchor, NJ Benson (18 total blocks), lacks the sheer disruption factor that St. John’s brings with Ejiofor (42 total blocks) and Dillon Mitchell (17 total blocks).

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Total Prediction: Under 148.5 at BetMGM

While offensive metrics often grab headlines, the defensive intensity of the visiting side dictates this play. St. John’s possesses elite rim protection, with Ejiofor averaging 2.0 blocks per game. This interior defense forces opponents into lower-percentage jump shots, suppressing scoring output.

DePaul’s offense relies heavily on CJ Gunn’s volume (264 shot attempts), yet he is shooting just 43.9%. Against a St. John’s unit that excels at altering shots and closing passing lanes, Gunn’s efficiency is likely to regress. Sharp money trends support this, anticipating a defensive stranglehold rather than a shootout.

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Key Situational Trends and Stats

• Road Perfection: St. John’s is undefeated as the visitor (5-0) this season.
• Rim Protection: The St. John’s defense is anchored by Ejiofor, who ranks 3rd in the conference with 42 blocks.
• Conference Struggles: DePaul enters on a two-game losing streak, holding a sub-.500 conference record (4-7) and struggling to close games.

Public Betting Splits & Market Trends

The college basketball betting public is heavily invested in the road favorite, showing little confidence in DePaul’s ability to defend home court.

• Moneyline: The conviction on St. John’s is overwhelming. The Red Storm are attracting 97.45% of the moneyline bets and a massive 98.63% of the handle.
• Spread: While slightly more balanced, the spread still leans heavily toward the visitors. St. John’s is seeing 55.74% of tickets, but that figure jumps to 61.85% of the money, indicating that larger wagers are laying the points.

Total: The Contrarian Angle

This is where the opportunity lies. While our analysis points to the “Over” based on offensive rebounding and pace, the public is betting the opposite.

• The Split: The “Under” is the popular consensus, commanding 58.22% of bets.
• The Money: Big money is even more bearish on points, with 67.74% of the handle backing the Under.

This creates a textbook contrarian scenario. The market is banking on a defensive grind, whereas the statistical profile suggests St. John’s offensive rebounding could wreck the game script, providing value on the Over for contrarian bettors.

St. John’s vs DePaul Stats

St. John’s vs DePaul Odds

As tip-off approaches at Wintrust Arena, official betting lines are fluctuating. Bettors should monitor major books for the most up-to-date numbers.

• Moneyline: St. John’s -480 | DePaul +360 (DraftKings)
• Spread: St. John’s -9.5 | DePaul +9.5
• Total: 148.5

Odds as of February 03, 2026.

Bettors looking for value should focus on the spread and total. The double-digit scoring margin difference (+12.9 vs +3.0) and St. John’s perfect road record support laying the points, while the sharp money on the Under suggests the total may be inflated due to St. John’s offensive reputation, ignoring their defensive clamp-down potential.