Creighton Bluejays (20-7) vs. St. John’s Red Storm (15-12)
As the NCAA Men’s Basketball season continues to heat up, an intriguing matchup is set to take place at Madison Square Garden on Sunday featuring the Creighton Bluejays and the St. John’s Red Storm. This game not only presents a critical juncture for both teams as they jockey for postseason positioning but also offers a fascinating opportunity for those involved in March Madness betting picks.
Creighton comes into this matchup to improve their NCAA Tournament resume. The Bluejays excel on the offensive end, ranking 10th nationally at 81.3 points per game. Guard Baylor Scheierman leads the attack, averaging 18.4 points and 8.7 rebounds. Creighton shoots the ball extremely well as a team, knocking down 49.1% of their field goals and 36.6% from three-point range. Rebounding (38.4 per game) and ball security (10.4 turnovers per game) have also been strengths.
St. John’s has been inconsistent this season, struggling to string together wins in a tough Big East conference. Center Joel Soriano anchors the Red Storm, averaging 14.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per contest. St. John’s likes to push the pace, evidenced by their 76.6 points per game average, but they have trouble taking care of the ball (11.7 turnovers per game). They also struggle defending on the perimeter, allowing opponents to shoot 32.9% from beyond the arc.
Creighton Bluejays vs. St. John’s Red Storm Game Info
| When: | Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 12:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Madison Square Garden |
| TV: | CBS |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Baylor Scheierman (Guard) vs. Joel Soriano (Center)
Baylor Scheierman has put together an excellent season for Creighton, playing 36.2 minutes per game as a critical part of their attack. He’s averaging 18.4 points on 45.7% shooting, showing his versatility to score from all levels. Scheierman also contributes 8.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per contest – using his 6’7″ size at guard to impact several facets of the game. However, he commits 2.1 turnovers per game and could struggle with quicker opposing ball-handlers.
Soriano is the anchor of St. John’s interior defense, averaging 14.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and a team-high 1.7 blocks per game. He maximizes his opportunities in only 28.2 minutes per game, shooting an extremely efficient 59.8% from the floor. Soriano also rarely turns it over, coughing it up just 1.3 times per contest. But the big man is limited outside the paint, attempting just 2 three-pointers all season. He also shoots a pedestrian 71% from the charity stripe.
This battle of contrasting styles should go a long way in determining the outcome. If Scheierman can penetrate and create from the perimeter it could pull Soriano away from the rim. But if Soriano owns the paint on both ends it could stunt Creighton’s offensive flow. The player that imposes their offensive style best should give their team an excellent chance at victory on Sunday.
NCAAB Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
With betting odds yet to be determined, bettors should keep a close eye on the spread and moneyline as they become available. Creighton’s recent form and offensive prowess might make them favorites, but St. John’s has the potential to surprise, especially with home advantage at Madison Square Garden.
Creighton Bluejays Betting Trends
Creighton has an impressive 8-4 against the spread (ATS) record in road matchups this season. This shows their ability to not only win away from home, but cover margins set by oddsmakers. The Bluejays efficient shooting and scoring should travel well to an opposing arena like Madison Square Garden. Nine of Creighton’s last 15 home contests have also gone Over the betting total.
St. John’s Red Storm Betting Trends
Conversely, St. John’s has struggled to cover numbers, with a 1-4 ATS record in their past five contests. The Red Storm are just 5-7 ATS in home games as well, indicating they don’t take full advantage of their home court. However, three of St. John’s last five overall have gone Over the set totals, thanks in part to their uptempo style of play. That pace could help this matchup eclipse its total.
Creighton Bluejays vs. St. John’s Red Storm 2/25/24 Betting Picks
Analysis and betting trends indicate that Creighton appears to be the safer bet, especially given their offensive efficiency and recent form. However, one should never under-estimate St John’s potential for an upset; so bettors might want to consider betting the over on total points as both teams tend to engage in high-scoring games.
In terms of top online betting, Creighton’s spread, assuming it reflects their season-long performance, would be a compelling pick. However, the value might also be found in live betting, especially if St. John’s can keep the game close in the early stages.
