#6 UConn vs. #13 St. John’s Picks and Predictions: Big East Championship
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Sat Mar 14, 2026, 3:00 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Another year, another Big East Championship at Madison Square Garden. The top two teams in the conference meet in what is certainly a down year for this league. Nevertheless, both UConn and St. John's are national title contenders, and it's very fitting that the two meet in the tournament championship after dominating the rest of the conference. They also split the season series, both winning at home (kind of). Will Dan Hurley or Rick Pitino's team come out on top tonight? Let's take a look at how our CBB experts are wagering on this game by checking out their favorite picks.
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Best Bet: St. John's +2 (-111) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Go check out what else I've got on my daily card, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.
#6 UConn Huskies vs. #13 St. John's Red Storm NCAA Basketball Insights
Dan Hurley and UConn take on St. John's for the third time this season
It's a storybook ending for the Big East, as the two clear cut best teams in the conference meet in the tournament championship. St. John's actually beat the Huskies in Madison Square Garden in their first meeting. The Johnnies were 1.5 point underdogs, with a 143.5 total, and the Red Storm won outright by nine, with 153 combined points. However, at PeoplesBank Arena about a month later, the Huskies got their revenge.
UConn was a 5.5 point favorite "at home", with a 145.5 total. The Huskies blew out the Johnnies, holding them to just 40 total points (14 in the second half), as they won 72-40. So not only did they split the season series, but we had one game go over with an outright, underdog win, and the other was an easy cover for the favorite that stayed well under the total.
What do these teams have in store for us tonight in the third meeting of the year? Let's look at the betting odds for the Big East Championship.
Matchup Information – UConn vs. St. John's – March 14
- Venue & Location: Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)
- Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026
- Kick Off: 6:30 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: FOX
UConn vs. St. John's Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of March 14, 2026 at 2:16 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- UConn -2 (-109)
- St. John's +2 (-111)
Moneyline
- UConn -132
- St. John's +109
Total
- Over 139 (-112)
- Under 139 (-108)
#6 UConn vs. #13 St. John's NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions
Will the Red Storm take down UConn at Madison Square Garden tonight? I think they can.
UConn vs. St. John's Prediction: St. John's Wins Outright, Over 139
Best Bet: St. John's +2 (-111) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
I like the Johnnies catching points and also like them outright as well. While the outside shooting is an issue for the Red Storm, attacking the hoop and pushing the pace is not. Ricky P's team ranks top 60 in possessions per game and are top 35 at getting to the free throw line. Plus, they are top 50 in adjusted offensive efficiency and turnover rate, while jumping into the top 25 in offensive rebounds. They do all of the little things right on offense, and they are stellar defensively as well. And over the last few games, I think they are playing MUCH better basketball than UConn.
But it's still Dan Hurley's team. You can't count them out. However, after obliterating St. John's, the Huskies squeaked by Seton Hall at home and lost to Marquette on the road. Sure, they've turned it on by covering two straight in the Big East tournament, but St. John's has done the same. The Johnnies covered against Providence and Seton Hall, and I would argue they played two tougher teams in the tournament than the Huskies did. That might make them slightly more ready for tonight's rematch, and of course they have revenge on their mind.
Ultimately, if the Johnnies are able to push the pace and turn this into a shootout, they have a better chance at winning the game in my eyes. Look for the Red Storm to do exactly that, trying to turn this game into a track meet, which goes against UConn's style of play, and could make them extra uncomfortable tonight in the Garden.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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