As the No. 9 St.
Johns Red Storm (30-6) prepare to face off against the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils (34-2) in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament's East Region, fans are gearing up for a thrilling showdown.
The game tips off at 7:10 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., and it promises to be a clash of titans.
St. Johns, the fifth seed in the East, is riding high on an eight-game winning streak.
Their recent victory over the No. 4 Kansas Jayhawks, a nail-biting 67-65 finish, showcased their resilience.
Despite not covering as 3.5-point favorites, the duo of Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins shone brightly, each contributing 18 points. Hopkins was particularly lethal from beyond the arc, hitting 6 of 9 three-pointers.
Prior to this, they dominated the 12-seed Northern Iowa Panthers, cruising to a 79-53 win.
On the other side, Duke is coming off a commanding 81-58 victory against the TCU Horned Frogs. As 11.5-point favorites, they comfortably covered the spread.
Cameron Boozer was a standout performer with 19 points and 11 rebounds, leading Duke to a dominant 40-23 advantage on the boards. However, their journey hasn't been entirely smooth.
In the first round, they narrowly escaped an upset against the 16-seed Siena Saints, winning 71-65 but failing to cover as 28.5-point favorites.
The last time these two schools met was back in February 2019, when Duke secured a decisive 91-61 victory, covering as 17-point favorites. Historically, Duke holds a 7-2 record against St. Johns since 2007, but this matchup promises to be fiercely contested.
Game Predictions and Betting Insights
Prediction: Duke 68, St. Johns 64
Moneyline: Duke entered the tournament as a favorite to win it all, but their shaky start raised some eyebrows. While they have the talent to advance, St.
Johns' physicality and defensive prowess could pose a real threat, especially if they manage to get Boozer into foul trouble. This game might be closer than the odds suggest.
Against the Spread: Consider taking St. Johns +6.5.
The Red Storm have been impressive, going 9-1 straight up and 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games, including a significant victory over the UConn Huskies in the Big East Conference tournament. Duke, meanwhile, hasn't consistently lived up to expectations.
Over/Under: With Duke at 5-5 and St. Johns at 1-9 in their last 10 games regarding the Over/Under, neither team is known for pushing the pace. An UNDER 140.5 seems like a safe bet here.
As the excitement builds for this Sweet 16 clash, both teams will be looking to leave their mark and advance to the next round. It's set to be a captivating contest that fans won't want to miss.