Villanova Wildcats (11-7) vs. St. John’s Red Storm (12-7)
Villanova Wildcats vs. St. John’s Red Storm 1/24/24 – As the NCAA Men’s Basketball season heats up, a key matchup looms on the horizon: the Villanova Wildcats, with an 11-7 standing, are set to face the St. John’s Red Storm, currently 12-7. This clash promises to be a pivotal moment for both teams. Set in the iconic Madison Square Garden at 8:30 PM ET and broadcasted on FS1, this game is a crucial juncture for fans seeking winning college basketball picks today. The Wildcats and the Red Storm, both with impressive records, are gearing up for a showdown that could significantly impact their standings.
Villanova Wildcats have put up an outstanding performance this season, averaging 73.7 points per game while producing efficient field goal attempts (58 per game with an impressive 42.3% success rate) as part of an offensive strategy centered on efficient free throw accuracy of 81.8% accuracy and strong three-point shooting (33.5%). On defense, they tallied 36 rebounds per game including 26 defensive rebounds that contributed significantly. Moreover, they turned over 10 times per game while turning over an average of 10 times while fouling 15.6 times – showing their disciplined yet aggressive approach towards defense.
St. John’s Red Storm are an intimidating opponent, averaging an astounding 77.6 points per game on average. Their field goal attempts (65.1 per game) boast an outstanding success rate of 44.4% with 44.4% being successful; free throw percentage stands at 70.8% while three point field goal percentage slightly surpasses that of Wildcats at 33.7% – their rebounding per game average stands at 40.1 and they average 11.8 turnovers and 181 fouls which may signal their aggressive play style which could prove costly as it could become increasingly unpredictable over time.
Villanova Wildcats vs. St. John’s Red Storm 1/24/24 Game Info
| When: | Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 8:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Madison Square Garden |
| TV: | FS1 |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Eric Dixon (Forward) vs. Joel Soriano (Center)
Eric Dixon has taken on a bigger role in his junior season after being more of a role player his first two years. The 6’8″ combo forward is shooting an efficient 45.8% from the field while also showing his range with 34.3% from deep. Dixon is a tough matchup because of his size and scoring ability at multiple levels. He’ll look to pull Soriano out to the perimeter to open driving lanes for his teammates.
Joel Soriano is one of the most improved players in college basketball, more than tripling his scoring output from last season. The 6’11” center does most of his damage right at the rim, shooting 62.3% from the field. He’ll need to control the glass and dominate the paint against a smaller Villanova frontcourt. Soriano staying out of foul trouble will be key if St. John’s wants to spring the upset.
This matchup will likely decide the game. Dixon needs space to operate while Soriano wants to own the painted area. Whoever gets their preferred spots on the floor will give their team the edge. These two frontcourt players should put on a show under the bright lights at The Garden.
NCAAB Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
The current betting odds for this game are yet to be determined. However, based on the teams’ performances and trends, insights and recommendations will be crucial for bettors.
Villanova Wildcats Betting Trends
The recent betting trends for Villanova paint the picture of a team that likes to play a slow, grinding style focused on defense and limiting possessions. Over their last 32 contests, the Wildcats have gone under the first half total in 21 matchups and under the game total in 19 matchups. This shows Villanova has favored low-scoring affairs where defense rules the day. Specifically, 18 of their last 32 games have gone under their team total, highlighting some occasional scoring struggles. The Wildcats have also failed to cover in 14 of their previous 31 games, displaying some against the spread difficulties.
St. John’s Red Storm Betting Trends
St. John’s showcase a team very tough to beat at home so far this season. Over their last 14 contests at Madison Square Garden, the Red Storm have covered 9 times and shown an affinity for unders in recent home games. Nine of the last 16 games on their home court have gone under the total, with 9 also going under their team total in that span. This likely indicates that St. John’s ramps up their defense when playing in front of their home fans.
Villanova Wildcats vs. St. John’s Red Storm 1/24/24 Betting Picks
Based on the analysis and betting trends, this game presents a close contest with strengths and weaknesses on both sides. Villanova’s disciplined approach and St. John’s aggressive style will clash, making the outcome hard to predict. However, the trends suggest that betting on a lower total score might be a wise choice.
In terms of Top multi-handicapper picks, the better team might be difficult to determine due to the closely matched statistics. Prop bets and over/under considerations should be made with caution, keeping in mind each team’s scoring trends and defensive capabilities. The key to successful betting in this matchup will be a deep understanding of each team’s recent performances and strategies.
Free Pick and Prediction: Villanova Wildcats 72, St. John’s Red Storm 70