St. John’s Red Storm vs. Indiana Hoosiers Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Nov. 17, 2021

David Schwab
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Big East’s St. John’s Red Storm return to action on Wednesday night in a clash against the Big Ten’s Indiana Hoosiers. Tip-off from Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington is set for 9:00 p.m. (ET) with FS1 carrying the national broadcast.

Score Prediction

Indiana 80, St. John's 78

Best Bets

Over

St. John's Red Storm vs. Indiana Hoosiers Predictions

Each of these teams have gotten off to a strong start at 2-0 straight-up. As a result of those games, they have also proved they can each score quite a few points while playing tough on the defensive end of the court.

Granted, the competition that St. John’s and Indiana have faced has not been all that challenging. However, this should set up a very interesting contest against two teams that appear to be evenly matched.

The Red Storm could have the slight edge in their starting five and bench depth. Yet, Indiana has always been a tough out on its home court. While I have the Hoosiers taking full advantage of playing at home with the SU win, the best bet in this game would be the OVER on the total line.

St. John's Red Storm vs. Indiana Hoosiers Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Odds Provided by DraftKings - Subject to Change

• St. John's +6.5 (-115)
• Indiana -6.5 (-105)
• Over 148.5 (-110)
• Under 148.5 (-110)

St. John's Red Storm vs. Indiana Hoosiers Betting Resources

• Matchup: Big East vs. Big 10
• Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2021
• Venue: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
• Location: Bloomington, Indiana
• TV-Time: FS1 - 9:00 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

St. John's Red Storm Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 2-0
• ATS: 2-0
• O/U: 2-0

St. John’s opened its new season by covering a huge 44-point spread in a 119-61 victory against Mississippi Valley State. The total easily went OVER the 161.5-point closing line. This past Saturday, the Red Storm were able to cover a 13.5-point spread against Saint Peter’s in a 91-70 romp. The total went OVER 138 points.

The scoring stats from these first two games have led to five players averaging at least 10 points per game. The headliner of this group is guard Julian Champagnie with a combined 42 points while shooting 51.9% from the field. He has connected on 46.7% of his 15 three-point attempts.

Guards’ Tareq Coburn and Posh Alexander have each added another 30 points to the scoring total. Center Joel Soriano has led the way in rebounds with 18 and Alexander has averaged eight assists a game.

As a team, the Red Storm have shot a blazing 60.5% from the field while converting on 48.1% of their shots from three-point range. They averaged 42 rebounds over the course of those first two games with 19 on the offensive end of the court.

Indiana Hoosiers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 2-0
• ATS: 1-1
• O/U: 0-2

The Hoosiers opened play with a much tighter than expected 68-62 win against Eastern Michigan closing as heavy 24.5-point favorites. Three days later on Friday night, they found their form in an 85-49 rout over Northern Illinois to cover the 25.5-point closing line. The total stayed UNDER in each of those games. It closed at 144.5 points against Eastern Michigan and at 143.5 points in Friday’s victory.

Indiana was able to open up a 17-point lead in the first half of its season opener, but things got a little too close for comfort in the six-point win. The game was never in doubt against Northern Illinois. Forward Trayce Jackson-Davis has led the way with an average of 20 points and 10.5 rebounds a game.

Guard Xavier Johnson is the other Hoosier scoring in double figures with 27 combined points in his first two games. While Jackson-Davis has shot 65.2% from the field, Johnson has also had a hot hand with a 57.1 shooting percentage from the field. He is also leading the team in assists with six.

Overall, Indiana shot 44.9% from the field in its first two games but just 25.5% from three-point range. This is definitely something that that needs to improve among much tougher competition. The Hoosiers have averaged 40 rebounds across their first two games.

The St. John's Red Storm has won the second half in five straight games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - St. John's Red Storm

• Record: 2-0
• VI Ranking: 43
• PS/G: 105 (1st)
• PA/G: 65.5 (144th)
• ORtg: 132.1 (6th)
• DRtg: 82.4 (55th)

Inside the Stats - Indiana Hoosiers

• Record: 2-0
• VI Ranking: 22
• PS/G: 76.5 (149th)
• PA/G: 55.5 (33rd)
• ORtg: 102 (196th)
• DRtg: 74 (21st)

Key Players to Watch

• SJU: Julian Champagnie - G (21 ppg, 4 rpg)
• SJU: Posh Alexander - G (15 ppg, 8 apg)
• IND: Trayce Jackson-Davis - F (20 ppg, 10.5 rpg)
• IND: Xavier Johnson - G (13.5 ppg)

St. John's Red Storm vs. Indiana Hoosiers Betting Conclusion

Based on the early stats alone, St. John’s has a decent chance to pull off the SU upset on Wednesday night. It is still too early to gain a strong hold on either team’s playing form given the level of competition they have faced.

There is nothing concrete to go on in a head-to-head comparison. These two teams have met twice before going back to 1999. Indiana won the last meeting 83-73 as a heavy 20.5-point home favorite in 2015.

St. John’s went 4-6 both SU and against the spread in 10 road games last season. The total was evenly split in those games 5-5. Indiana has won four of its last six home games SU going back to last season with an even 3-3 record ATS. The total stayed UNDER in four of those games.

Taking little from any recent betting trends given just how early it is in the season, I see both teams scoring enough points on Wednesday night to take this game’s total OVER the current line.

St. John's Red Storm vs. Indiana Hoosiers Betting Trends

• St. John's has won the second half in five straight games.
• Indiana has won nine of its last 10 home games when playing on a Wednesday.

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