NCAA Tournament Player Props: Picks for Zuby Ejiofor, Braden Smith & Tarris Reed for Friday On the first full day of NCAA Tournament action, several standout performances emerged, with players like Tyler Tanner, Terence Hill Jr., and Morez Johnson leading the way. For Friday’s games, the focus shifts to a pair of Big East big men who have been dominant throughout the season, along with Braden Smith, whose potential for a historic night may still result in an underperforming stat line. Here’s a breakdown of the key player props for Friday’s first-round matchups. Zuby Ejiofor is set to face Northern Iowa in a matchup that favors his offensive skills. Ejiofor, a First-Team All-Big East selection and recipient of the Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards, has been a consistent scorer, averaging 16.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. His recent form has been exceptional, with 18 points in each of his past five games and an average of 20.6 points over that stretch. St. John’s, which has won 19 of its last 20 games, enters the tournament with a strong offensive identity. While the team is not known for its three-point shooting, head coach Rick Pitino may prioritize inside scoring, which should benefit Ejiofor. Northern Iowa’s defense ranks third nationally in three-point shooting allowed but struggles against two-pointers, making this a favorable matchup for Ejiofor. The pick leans toward him exceeding 17.5 points. Braden Smith, a consensus First-Team All-American, is poised to make history by becoming the NCAA’s all-time assist leader. However, his prop line for Friday’s game against Queens NC may be too high. Smith averages nine assists per game but has stayed under 10.5 assists in 71% of his games this season.#st_johns #zuby_ejiofor #braden_smith #northern_university #tarris_reed
St. John's vs. Northern Iowa odds, March Madness predictions: 2026 NCAA Tournament picks by proven model The 12-seed Northern Iowa Panthers will face the 5-seed St. John's Red Storm in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament’s East Region on Friday. The matchup, set for 7:10 p.m. ET at the Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl in San Diego, pits Northern Iowa (23-12) against St. John's (28-6). Northern Iowa secured its spot in the tournament by winning the MVC Tournament as the lowest seed in the event’s history, defeating UIC 84-69 in the championship. St. John's claimed the Big East regular-season title and conference tournament, with standout player Zuby Ejiofor averaging 16.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. St. John's enters the game as a 10.5-point favorite in the latest odds, with the total points scored projected at 132.5. The Panthers have won their last five games, while the Red Storm have won 19 of their last 20 contests. The model’s analysis highlights key matchups, with Northern Iowa’s four players expected to score 10 points or more, including Trey Campbell projected for 15 points. St. John's is predicted to have three players scoring 12 points or more, led by Ejiofor, who is expected to contribute 16 points. The SportsLine Projection Model, which has demonstrated strong performance with a 28-22 record on top-rated college basketball picks, simulated the game 10,000 times. The model’s latest prediction favors the over on the total points, with an 81% chance of the total exceeding 131.5. This aligns with Northern Iowa’s recent trend of games going over the total, despite St. John's strong defensive reputation. The Red Storm’s offensive output during the Big East Tournament run, averaging 78.3 points per game, also supports the over projection.#zuby_ejiofor #sportsline_projection_model #st_johns_red_storm #northern_university #trey_campbell
