The Arkansas Razorbacks are set to clash with the St. John's Red Storm in an exciting matchup during the NCAA Tournament. Scheduled for tip-off at 2:40 p.m. ET, this game will be broadcast live on CBS. As the game approaches, the Red Storm are currently favored by 7.5 points on the spread, with a moneyline of -305. The total for this game is set at 144.5 points. Below, we provide detailed predictions and betting insights for the Arkansas vs. St. John's showdown on March 22, 2025.
My top pick for the Arkansas vs. St. John's game is to take the Razorbacks on the first-half spread at +3.5 (with a play down to +3). The best odds for this bet can currently be found at DraftKings. For those looking to make informed college basketball bets, be sure to utilize our live NCAAB odds page to find the best lines available.
The latest odds for the Arkansas vs. St. John's matchup are as follows:
Spread: St. John's -7, Arkansas +7 Over/Under: 145 points Moneyline: St. John's ML -320, Arkansas ML +260While I favor Arkansas on the first-half spread, I do not have a play on the moneyline or the total for this game.
When it comes to describing an exhilarating NCAA Tournament game, a few names come to mind: John Calipari, Rick Pitino, and the magic of March Madness. The Arkansas Razorbacks recently secured a brilliant victory over the Kansas Jayhawks in the Round of 64, while the St. John's Red Storm managed to put an end to Omaha's tradition of trash-can victories.
Although I typically avoid first-half plays due to a lack of overall value, this matchup presents a unique case. Observers may have noted that St. John's often found themselves trailing Omaha for a significant part of the first half. This pattern has persisted, as the Red Storm have either trailed or led by just one point at halftime in their last three games. Historically, St. John's has struggled to start games strong, and their shooting woes have compounded this issue.
On the other hand, the Razorbacks appear to have a favorable matchup against the Red Storm. Arkansas possesses the length and athleticism to compete effectively with St. John's, a quality few teams can boast. The recent emergence of Trevon Brazile and Jonas Aidoo has significantly enhanced Arkansas' prospects. Brazile has showcased his skills by recording a double-double in four of his last five games, contributing to the Razorbacks' impressive 4-1 record in that span. Beyond his rebounding prowess, Brazile has also demonstrated his shooting ability, hitting 12-of-25 from three-point range during this stretch. Aidoo has also been impactful, scoring 14 or more points in four consecutive games.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this matchup is the trend of St. John's slow starts. It seems that the Red Storm may require intervention from Rick Pitino, prompting him to delve deep into his bench before the starters finally lock in. St. John's tends to leverage defensive pressure to force turnovers and create easy transition points when they fall behind. However, the Razorbacks have shown some vulnerability, posting a 17% turnover rate since February 1. Fortunately for Arkansas, they have strengthened their ball-handling capabilities with Boogie Fland’s return.
Defensively, Arkansas ranks an impressive 18th nationally in efficiency over the last 14 games, with Brazile and Aidoo effectively limiting opponents' driving lanes. St. John's offense, which ranks outside the top 50 in efficiency since February 1, may find it difficult to generate scoring opportunities against this formidable defense. Additionally, Arkansas has excelled at getting to the rim, ranking in the top 15 in free throw rate over the past month and a half. St. John's has a notable weakness when it comes to defending the interior, which could be exploited by the Razorbacks. If the 6-foot-11 Brazile and Aidoo manage to outmatch 6-foot-7 Luis, Pitino may be forced to adjust by replacing Aaron Scott with 7-footer Ruben Prey—potentially sacrificing shooting prowess.
As we gear up for this thrilling matchup, one thing remains clear: whatever Pitino decides to convey to his team at halftime tends to work wonders. Until then, I will capitalize on the early struggles of the two-seed, confident that the Razorbacks can make a strong showing.
