Nebraska-Omaha vs St. John's Picks and Prediction – 3/21/2025

St. John’s Red Storm (30-4) take on the Omaha Mavericks (22-12) in an NCAA Tournament matchup. The Red Storm are coming off a strong season and are looking to continue winning, while the Mavericks aim to pull off an upset. Omaha won its last game in convincing fashion, while St. John’s enters the tournament after winning the Big East title. Slam dunk your bets with our College Basketball picks.

Omaha put together a solid season but faces a tough challenge in this matchup. The Mavericks shoot 45.0% from the field and 36.7% from deep, averaging 72.2% from the free-throw line. The leading scorer, Marquel Sutton, scores 19.1 points per game, averages 8.0 rebounds, and 48.4% shooting. Jason White adds scoring depth with 49.7% shooting and 43.9% from three. The team moves the ball well with 13.6 assists per game but must limit turnovers against a strong St. John’s defense.

Defensively, Omaha allows too many second-chance opportunities, giving up 14.6 offensive rebounds per game. They force only 6.1 steals per contest and block just 2.5 shots, which could be problematic against a Red Storm team that thrives in transition. If they can contain the Red Storm’s interior scoring, they have a chance to make this game competitive.

St. John’s enters the tournament as a favorite, boasting a 46.8% field goal percentage and 36.7% from three. RJ Luis Jr is the leading scorer at 18.4 points per game. The team dominates the glass with 40.9 rebounds per game, led by Zuby Ejiofor (8.0 RPG) and Luis Jr. (7.2 RPG). Kadary Richmond contributes across the board with 6.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 49.1% shooting.

The Red Storm defense is elite, forcing 9.2 steals per game while blocking 5.4 shots. They limit opponents’ looks and capitalize on mistakes, making them a nightmare matchup for Omaha. If they continue with strong defensive intensity, St. John’s should control this game from start to finish.

St. John’s is too dominant on both ends of the floor for Omaha to keep up. The defense forces turnovers and the rebounding advantage will create second-chance opportunities. With a more efficient offense and a lockdown defense, St. John’s should advance with ease. Final Score Prediction: St. John’s easily wins 88-54.