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
Jacksonville vs. Bellarmine Odds, Prediction: 2026 Atlantic Sun Tournament Picks The 2026 Atlantic Sun Tournament kicks off with a first-round matchup between the No. 8 seed Bellarmine Knights and the No. 9 seed Jacksonville Dolphins. The winner will face top-seeded Central Arkansas in the quarterfinals on Friday. Both teams finished with identical 7-11 records in conference play, placing them in a four-team tie for seventh in the ASUN standings. Bellarmine claimed a victory in their previous meeting with Jacksonville on Jan. 22, covering the spread. The game is set for noon ET at the UNF Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. DraftKings Sportsbook lists Bellarmine as 1.5-point favorites, with the total points over/under at 147.5. SportsLine’s Projection Model, which has demonstrated strong accuracy in college basketball betting, has simulated the matchup 10,000 times. The model’s analysis suggests the over (147.5) is a strong bet, as both teams have shown offensive firepower. Bellarmine scored 111 points against Austin Peay in its regular-season finale, while Jacksonville has averaged over 84 points in three of its last four games. The model also highlights the potential for a high-scoring game, projecting 157 points total, with the over hitting 76% of the time. This aligns with the teams’ recent performance, as their January matchup totaled 147 points—exceeding the over/under of 139.5. The model’s predictions emphasize the likelihood of a close contest, with one side of the spread expected to dominate over 50% of simulations. SportsLine’s model, which has maintained a strong track record with a 23-17 record on side picks and an 11-1 run on over/under bets, provides insights into the matchup’s dynamics.#atlantic_sun_tournament #unf_arena #bellarmine_knights #jacksonville_dolphins #sportsline_projection_model
