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The Syracuse Orange take on the St. John's Red Storm in New York, NY. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on Peacock/NBCSN.
St. John's is favored by -12.5 points on the spread, and the total is set at 150.5 points.
Here’s my Syracuse vs. St. John's prediction and college basketball picks for November 15, 2026.
Syracuse vs St. John's Prediction
Pick: Under 150.5
My Syracuse vs St. John's best bet is on the under. Be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page and download the Action Network app for the latest picks and analysis.
Syracuse vs St. John's Odds
| Syracuse Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+12.5 -102 | 150.5 -110o / -110u | OFF |
| St. John's Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-12.5 -118 | 150.5 -110o / -110u | OFF |
- Syracuse vs St. John's spread: Syracuse +12.5 (-102), St. John's -12.5 (-118)
- Syracuse vs St. John's over/under: 150.5 (-110 / -110)
Syracuse vs St. John's College Basketball Preview
Syracuse Basketball
The "G-Mac" era is in full swing in Syracuse. The Orange nearly beat Indiana last week but fell short, heading to MSG with a 2-1 record.
The biggest thing to note is Aidan Tobiason's status. The transfer from Temple hurt his hamstring in an exhibition and hasn't played this season.
I'd expect Syracuse to stay more defense-oriented with Tobiason on the shelf. So far, the Orange are 65th in defensive efficiency. They're holding teams to a 24% offensive rebound rate and 45% shooting on 2s.
I'll call that the Sadiq White and Luke Wilson factor. White is a defensive force, leading the team with 1.7 blocks, to go with his 11.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Wilson is a block of granite. He's an immovable object at the hoop and gathers boards with ease.
Offensively, I have worries about the Orange, even with Tobiason. Kiyan Anthony leads the team with 15 points per game, but it's tough to trust him. Sure, he's Carmelo's son, but his shot selection is poor and he lacks the burst to be a true college hoops star.
Gerry McNamara is putting a lot of faith in freshman point guard Ryan Moesch. The crafty six-foot guard scored 19 points with six dimes against Indiana, but I wouldn't want to be a freshman point guard against Rick Pitino.
St. John's Basketball
St. John's will face its first high-major opponent of the season after beating Colgate, Iona and Monmouth in convincing fashion.
No coach loves pressing and forcing turnovers more than Pitino, and the Johnnies boast a 25% turnover rate. That leads to them sitting 15th in defensive efficiency. Plus, St. John's is holding teams to 45% shooting on 2s (85th), and it does well at limiting second chances (33rd in defensive rebound rate).
The Johnnies are one of the bigger teams in the country, ranking 20th in average height. All five of the starters stand 6-foot-5 or taller, with 6-foot-11 Ruben Prey rounding out the lineup.
I'm very curious if this St. John's offense looks crisp against a good defensive team. Are they talented? Absolutely. Does the talent fit? I don't know yet. The trio of Tounde Yessoufou, Keyshawn Hall and Ian Jackson combine for close to 50 points a night, but all of them are best with the ball in their hands.
Hall is usually a net negative when it comes to winning, and the other two lack consistency. Perhaps having a seasoned EuroLeague pro like Quinn Ellis to get them the ball makes life easier. He's been dynamite for the Johnnies, tallying 7.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game.
Also keep an eye on Babacar Sane. He's another former pro who seems to be getting his feet under him after missing the season opener. The 6-foot-7 forward defends at an elite level and can shut down Syracuse's offense.
Syracuse vs St. John's Pick, Betting Analysis
Pace-wise, St. John's will look to speed it up. The Johnnies sit 62nd in adjusted tempo, but if Syracuse can limit the turnovers, the Orange can slow the game down.
That's what I'm targeting here, and why I think under 150.5 is a strong play.
Pick: Under 150.5
