The St. John's Red Storm take on the Butler Bulldogs in Indianapolis, IN. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on Peacock.
St. John's is favored by 4.5 points on the spread with a price of 64-cent to win and the total set at 161.5 points on Fanatics Markets.
Here’s my St. John's vs. Butler prediction and college basketball picks for January 6, 2026.
St. John's vs Butler Prediction
My Pick: Butler +2 or Better
My St. John's vs Butler best bet is on the Bulldogs to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
St. John's vs. Butler Odds, Spread
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St. John's vs Butler NCAAB Betting Preview
Neither St. John's nor Butler finds itself on the right track at this point of the season.
The Johnnies wanted to challenge for a conference title and a path to a deep run this March, while Thad Matta would've loved for his team to earn its way to the Big Dance.
Both are behind schedule, just as the heat turns up during the heights of conference play.
Each of these teams would love to win this game, with a brawl in the paint and on the glass likely deciding the outcome.
St. John's Basketball
St. John's lost just five games last season. With returning talent and some wins in the transfer portal, many expected another strong year, including contention for a Big East title.
Few expected the Johnnies to match that loss total by January 3, with just one win over a top 50 opponent in five tries.
What's gone wrong in the Big Apple?
The first set of questions center on Bryce Hopkins, once a coveted recruit at Kentucky and star at Providence. He's posting his lowest scoring and rebounding marks since his freshman year at Kentucky, back in 2022.
For someone once considered an elite scorer in college hoops, Hopkins has shown a tendency to disappear for long stretches.
In a win over DePaul, he took just four shots from the field. In recent games, he's been inefficient, making just 5-of-20 from the field. That includes a 3-of-13 performance in a loss to his former school, Providence.
Hopkins is taking three shots from outside the arc per game and hitting under 30% of those attempts. He's taking more of his shots from outside than he ever did as a Friar, and finding the rim or his mid-range game less consistently.
The other questions focus on the defensive end of the floor. Last season, the Red Storm boasted the best defense in the Big East, allowing 92.2 points per 100 possessions in conference play.
In three conference games this season, that mark is 105.2 points per 100 possessions, a clear step backward.
Defensive rebounding has been an issue, with opponents this season hauling in 35% of their own misses, among the 50 highest marks in the nation. Iowa State, Auburn, Baylor and Kentucky grabbed higher than 44% of their misses against the St. John's defense.
That issue has to be resolved for this team to return to its place among Big East contenders.
Butler Basketball
Despite a pretty soft non-conference schedule, Butler had to like where it stood entering Big East play. The Bulldogs were 7-2, with wins over Virginia and South Carolina before grabbing a victory over Northwestern soon after.
Yet in Big East play, Butler already finds itself in trouble, thanks to a 1-3 start.
That raw record is a bit misleading, given the opponents on the slate so far. According to KenPom, Butler has faced the second toughest schedule to date in Big East games, with a real chance to take the top spot after this meeting with St. John's.
Butler has given itself a fighting chance in the Big East by relying on a one-two scoring punch.
Third-year star guard Finley Bizjack leads the attack off the dribble, creating for himself and others.
Michael Ajayi, previously of Pepperdine and Gonzaga, is a tough matchup for wing players, using his size and strength to bully defenders. He's been effective attacking off the bounce and scoring on the block, and he's also been a monster on the glass.
St. John's vs. Butler Betting Analysis
Eventually, you'd expect Rick Pitino to shake his team awake and get the Red Storm back on track. I'm skeptical this is the time and place he'll be able to do so.
St. John's loves to win physical games, earning trips to the free-throw line at a top 20 rate nationally. Butler avoids fouls better than almost anyone, ranking seventh in free-throw rate allowed.
Butler's opponents are instead forced to live in the mid-range, where Hopkins has been iffy and his teammates have been worse. Ajayi makes for a tough match for Hopkins and should give him trouble when matched up.
On the other end of the floor, the defensive rebounding woes of St. John's will be on display. The Red Storm rank 310th in cleaning the glass. Butler grabs its own misses at the 16th-highest rate in the country.
St. John's is desperate for a win, yet walking into Hinkle to steal one is easier said than done.
My Pick: Butler +2 or Better
