Arkansas vs St John's Betting Preview: Red Storm Open as 5.5-Point Favorites
St John's Red Storm (-5.5) face Arkansas Razorbacks in a compelling NCAA Tournament Round of 32 matchup. The opening odds have St John's as -245 favorites on the moneyline, with the total set at 140.5 points.
Arkansas (21-13, 15-18-1 ATS) enters following a hard-fought 79-72 victory over Kansas, where Jonas Aidoo led with 22 points. The Razorbacks overcame a late deficit thanks to strong defensive play and winning the turnover battle by 6.
Basketball player shoots jumper
St John's (31-4, 21-11-2 ATS) dominated Omaha 83-53 in their opening game, extending their winning streak to ten games. The Red Storm boasts the nation's #1 defensive efficiency rating according to KenPom, allowing just 65.9 points per game despite playing at a high tempo.
Key Players:
- St John's: RJ Luis Jr (18.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG), Zuby Ejiofor (14.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG), Kadary Richmond (12.7 PPG, 5.4 APG)
- Arkansas: Jonas Aidoo (6.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG), DJ Wagner (14 points vs Kansas)
March Madness Selection Show
The teams haven't met this season, but share a common opponent in Georgia. Arkansas defeated Georgia 68-65, while St John's fell to the Bulldogs 66-63 earlier this season.
St John's enters as the eighth favorite to win March Madness at +2800 odds, seeking their first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999. Arkansas aims to return to the Sweet 16 after making three straight appearances from 2021-2023.