UNI Panthers vs. St. John’s Red Storm: Predictions, College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds for 3/20/2026

• Matchup: UNI Panthers vs St. John’s Red Storm
• Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
• Venue: Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA
• Broadcast: CBS
• Betting Odds: St. John’s favored by 10 points

This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.

The St. John’s Red Storm (28-6) aim to secure a win against the UNI Panthers (23-12) at Viejas Arena this Friday during the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Oddsmakers have set St. John’s as 10-point favorites, with the over/under total at 132.

In their last outing, the UNI Panthers triumphed over UIC, finishing with a score of 84-69. The Panthers incurred 14 fouls, mirroring UIC’s total. They succeeded on 6 of 17 attempts from the three-point range, while UIC managed a perfect 100% from the free throw line, netting all 9 attempts. UIC recorded 19 rebounds (9 offensive, 10 defensive) but failed to record any blocks. They also delivered 13 assists and achieved 5 steals during the game. Defensively, UNI allowed a shooting percentage of 43.5% (27 of 62) from the field. They assisted 25 times while forcing their opponents into 5 turnovers and notching 3 steals. On the board, the Panthers claimed 25 rebounds, including 7 on offense. From the charity stripe, UNI completed 10 of 13 free throws, yielding a conversion rate of 76.9%. The Panthers concluded with a shooting percentage of 63.3% (31 of 49) and drilled 12 of 23 three-pointers.

Trey Campbell emerged as a standout performer, boasting an impressive 61.5% shooting from the field while contributing 4 assists. He played for 37 minutes, gathering 4 rebounds and scoring 23 points on 8 of 13 shooting.

UNI enters this match with a record of 23-12 for the season. They are averaging 69.9 points per game (ranked 309th nationally) while shooting 47.7% from the field. The Panthers convert 35.5% of their three-point attempts (272 out of 767) and shoot 69.9% from the free throw line. Collectively, UNI averages 31.9 rebounds per game and has tallied 526 assists this season, ranking 66th in the nation for assist stats. They have a low turnover rate of 9.3 times per game and commit an average of 15.3 personal fouls.

Defensively, the Panthers are forcing their rivals into 11.9 turnovers per game and committing 14.5 personal fouls themselves. They rank 45th in college basketball for assists allowed, having given up 378 throughout the season. UNI has allowed a field goal percentage of 40.7% (766 made out of 1,884 attempts) and averages giving up 33.0 rebounds per game. They have also limited opponents to 28.5% on three-point shots, ranking first in Division 1 for points allowed per game at just 61.3.

In their last game, the St. John’s Red Storm defeated Connecticut with a score of 72-52. St. John’s allowed Connecticut to grab a total of 26 rebounds (12 offensive). They struggled from beyond the arc, shooting only 15.8% by hitting 3 of 19 attempts, but excelled at the free throw line, converting 11 of 14 (78.6%). Connecticut managed to hit 19 of their 56 shots from the field, equating to 33.9%. Overall, the Red Storm’s shooting percentage stood at 48.2% with 27 for 56 from the field, including 5 successful three-pointers out of 20 attempts (25.0%). With Connecticut committing 25 fouls, the Red Storm found themselves at the charity stripe 17 times. They surrendered possession 13 times while capturing 9 steals. St. John’s recorded 22 rebounds defensively and 8 offensively, tallying a total of 30 rebounds in the game.

Bryce Hopkins played a pivotal role for the Red Storm, successfully hitting 7 out of 9 field goals for a shooting percentage of 77.8% and completing 5 rebounds. In his 38 minutes on the court, he amassed 18 points alongside 2 assists.

St. John’s carries a record of 28-6 this season. Offensively, the Red Storm are shooting 45.4% from the field, ranking 167th in the nation. They have accumulated 2,773 points total (averaging 81.6 points per game) and secure an average of 38.6 rebounds per contest. Their assist average is notable at 16.3 per game (51st nationally), while they average 10.5 turnovers per game. St. John’s commits approximately 17.3 fouls per game and hits 72.7% from the free throw line.

Defensively, St. John’s allows opponents to shoot 31.3% from deep (214 of 683) and 71.7% from the free throw line. They permit 11.8 assists and 34.4 total rebounds per game, ranking 58th and 182nd respectively on defense. The Red Storm stand at 73rd in the nation for points per game allowed, with a total of 70.0. They force opponents into 13.8 turnovers while allowing a field goal percentage of 42.1% (ranked 65th in college basketball).

Which team will prevail in tonight’s NCAA contest against the spread?

Prediction: Bet on St. John’s (-10)