St. John's will play its biggest game of 25 years on Saturday night.
Not only was the first Red Storm to participate in the Big East Final since 2000, but he also managed to push Johnny to the second seed in the NCAA Tournament with a win over Clayton at Madison Square Garden.
The Red Storm falls into a mountain of pressure to get the job done, but they have already answered Bell with a bunch of big spots this season.
St. John's is a 6.5-point favorite at Clayton on Saturday.
Find out which aspects it supports and check out the dedicated Big East Final promo code below.
Take advantage of the BET365 Sportsbook bonus code NYPBET to get a $150 bonus to wager $5 on Yale vs Princeton.
St. John's vs Clayton Odds
| team | Spread it | Money Line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's | -6.5 (-110) | -285 | 141.5 or higher (-110) |
| Clayton | +6.5 (-110) | +230 | Less than 141.5 (-110) |
St. John's vs. Clayton prediction
St. John's formula hasn't changed much this season.
The Red Storm has elite talent, but it is their defense that drives the bus.
It was on display on Friday night when Red Storm essentially took his life from Marquette in the second half of his 79-63 victory.
St. John's ranks 13th in Kenpom's power rankings, but his defense is the best in the country.
Clayton has checked in to the Big East Final, ranked 36th overall by Kenpom and Profile, and profiles as a team that doesn't do anything at the elite level.
The Blue Jays' offense is ranked 35th in Kenpom's efficiency ranking, and is the 40th best unit in the country in its defense grade.
The Blue Jays are solid, but their ceilings aren't as high as true heavyweights.
Clayton head coach Greg McDermott smiles at the beginning of his NCAA college basketball game against UConn on Friday, March 14, 2025, in the semi-finals of the Big East Tournament in New York. AP
St. John's vs. Clayton Pick
These two teams have split several close fights this season. Clayton won the first meeting 57-56, but Redstorm revenge in New York with a six-point victory.
The second game had a spread of 6.5 points, and things are standing at the time of writing.
And while the big moves from that spread will make you wonder if the line is bulging by the Red Storm bandwagon, it's not upsetting and I feel it's wrong.
St. John's has improved as the season progresses, with the red storm defense continuing to get tougher with every passing half.
St. John's has home court advantage, elite defense and the best players in this contest.
This is enough to justify a Red Storm punt of -6.5 or higher.
Pick: St. John's – 6.5
Do you bet on college basketball?
Do you think St. John's is a team of destiny and will cover this spread?
Join the action at BET365 with generous bonus offers.
Do you think the hype around the red storm has gone out of control?
Fade this pick and use the NYPBET bonus code to get a $150 free bet on BET365. All you have to do is click on the link above and get a crack in on your bet.
