Seton Hall Pirates vs St. John’s Red Storm Picks and Predictions January 18th 2025

Seton Hall Pirates vs St. John’s Red Storm January 18th 2025

Betting on today’s Red Storm and Pirates game? Catch the action at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, as the Pirates hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on FS1. St. John’s is favored by -9.5 in this Big East conference contest against Seton Hall. The game’s over/under currently sits at 138.5 points.

Red Storm vs. Pirates Key Information

• Sport: CBB
• Teams: St. John’s Red Storm at Seton Hall Pirates
• Where: Newark at Prudential Center
• Date: Saturday, January 18th
• Betting Odds STJOHN -9.5, STJOHN -490 | SETON +365 O/U 138.5

The Red Storm Can Win If…

St. John’s Red Storm Recent Game

St. John’s improved to 15-3 on the season with a 63-58 win over Georgetown on Tuesday. The Red Storm were -9.5 point favorites at home but didn’t cover the spread. The game finished with a total of 121 points, well under the O/U line of 143.5.

St. John’s trailed 37-27 at halftime but turned things around in the 2nd half. They outscored Georgetown 36-21 after the break to secure the win.

St. John’s struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 34.8% from the field and 35.7% on two-point attempts. They connected on 33.3% of their threes, going 8-for-24 from beyond the arc, and finished with an effective field goal percentage of 40.9%.

Micah Peavy led the way with 21 points and 7 rebounds, hitting 9 of 20 shots. RJ Luis Jr. added 19 points, while Aaron Scott contributed 14 points, making 4 of 7 threes. Malik Mack chipped in 13 points and 6 assists, despite shooting 29.4% from the field.

St. John’s put on a defensive clinic, holding their opponent to just 58 points on 34% shooting from the field. They were particularly effective inside, limiting the opposition to 35% shooting on two-point attempts, with a 15/42 performance.

From beyond the arc, St. John’s allowed 8 threes on 24 attempts, a 33% success rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 14 times, where they converted 9 for 64%. St. John’s gave up 15 offensive rebounds in the game.

• Through their last three road contests, the Red Storm offense has averaged 70 points per game while allowing an average of 66. St. John’s posted an overall record of 2-1 while going 1-1-1 ATS.
• Across their last five matchups as the betting favorite, the Red Storm have an overall record of 5-0 while going 2-3 against the spread.
• Over their last three games, the Red Storm have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

The Pirates Can Win If…

Seton Hall Pirates Recent Game/Games

Seton Hall’s season record dropped to 6-11 after an 82-77 loss to Butler on Wednesday. The Pirates, who were +6.5 point underdogs, managed to cover the spread in the loss.

Seton Hall trailed 41-35 at halftime but kept things close by scoring 42 points in the 2nd half while allowing 41. The game’s total points of 159 went over the pre-game line of 136.5.

Seton Hall put up 77 points in their latest game, shooting 50% from the field and posting an effective field goal percentage of 57.7%. They connected on 56.2% of their three-point attempts, going 9-for-16 from deep, while hitting 72.7% of their free throws.

Chaunce Jenkins led the way with 21 points and 4 assists, shooting 75% from three-point range. Scotty Middleton was perfect from beyond the arc, hitting all 4 of his attempts, finishing with 14 points on 4-for-4 shooting overall.

Seton Hall’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 82 points on 51% shooting from the field. Their interior defense was particularly vulnerable, allowing the opposing team to hit 65% of their two-point attempts, going 19/29.

From beyond the arc, Seton Hall allowed 7 threes on 22 attempts, with the other team shooting 31% from deep. They also sent the opposition to the free-throw line 28 times, where they converted 23 of those attempts for 82%.

• Across their last five home contests, Seton Hall has a 3-2 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 0-5, while averaging 72 points per game.
• Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, Seton Hall has an ATS mark of 2-1 while going 0-3 straight up.
• In their last five games, the Pirates have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 2-3 vs. the spread.

The Lean

Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +9.5, the Pirates is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 138.5, and our model projects the Red Storm and Pirates to reach a combined total of 145 points. Our bet is on taking the over.

St. John’s Aims to Extend Streak Against Seton Hall

The St. John’s Red Storm head to Newark on Saturday night to face Seton Hall in a Big East matchup with significant implications. With Rick Pitino’s squad riding a four-game winning streak and climbing the conference standings, the Red Storm are poised to assert their dominance against a struggling Pirates team.

St. John’s: A Team on the Rise

St. John’s (15-3, 6-1 Big East) has been a force in the Big East this season, thanks to a balanced attack that combines offensive firepower and defensive tenacity. Ranked second in the league in scoring (80.7 points per game) and scoring defense (66.9 ppg allowed), the Red Storm’s ability to control both ends of the court has been key to their success.

Their most recent victory, a gritty 63-58 comeback against Georgetown, exemplified their resilience. Despite shooting just 34.8% from the field, St. John’s held the Hoyas to 21 second-half points and erased a 15-point deficit.

“When you don’t have a great night, you come back and win—it tells you who you are and what you’re all about,” Pitino said.

The Red Storm’s success is driven by RJ Luis Jr., who averages 17.5 points per game. Luis has been on a tear, scoring 30 points against Villanova and 19 against Georgetown. Kadary Richmond, who transferred from Seton Hall, adds depth with 10.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, making Saturday’s game a homecoming with added intrigue.

Seton Hall: Searching for Answers

Seton Hall (6-11, 1-5 Big East) finds itself in a challenging position. The Pirates have struggled in conference play, with their lone Big East win coming against DePaul in overtime. Defensive lapses have been particularly costly, as evidenced by an 82-77 loss to Butler on Wednesday, giving the Bulldogs their first Big East win of the season.

Coach Shaheen Holloway voiced his frustration with the team’s lack of focus and defensive intensity. “Some guys (are) just playing for stats, some guys are just playing to play,” Holloway said. “They’re not defending.”

Isaiah Coleman leads the Pirates offensively, averaging 15.4 points per game, but the team has missed the contributions of Dylan Addae-Wusu, who sat out the Butler game with a foot injury. His availability for Saturday remains uncertain, further complicating Seton Hall’s prospects.

Key Matchups

RJ Luis Jr. vs. Seton Hall Defense: Luis has been the engine of St. John’s offense, and Seton Hall’s inconsistent defense will face a significant challenge containing him.

Kadary Richmond’s Return: Richmond’s first game back at Seton Hall adds emotional weight. His ability to orchestrate the offense and contribute on both ends of the court could be pivotal.

St. John’s Rebounding Edge: The Red Storm’s league-best rebounding margin (+7.0) could be a decisive factor, especially against a Seton Hall team prone to defensive lapses.

Uncover Key Players to Watch and How Their Performances May Influence the John Wooden Award Outcome

What’s at Stake

For St. John’s, a win would further solidify their position near the top of the Big East standings and strengthen their NCAA Tournament resume. For Seton Hall, this game represents an opportunity to steady the ship and restore some pride amidst a turbulent season.

With RJ Luis Jr.’s scoring prowess, Rick Pitino’s tactical brilliance, and Kadary Richmond’s emotional return, the Red Storm enter Saturday as favorites. However, Seton Hall’s desperation and home-court advantage make this a potential trap game for St. John’s.

Can the Red Storm continue their ascent, or will the Pirates pull off a much-needed upset? Fans won’t want to miss this high-stakes Big East showdown.