St. John’s vs. Dayton Odds, Pick

St. John’s vs. Dayton Odds

St. John’s and Dayton are set to clash in the semifinals of the Charleston Classic on Friday.

Here are the St. John’s vs. Dayton odds and a pick, along with an insightful college basketball betting guide for Friday, Nov. 17.

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St. John’s NCAA tournament victory drought dates back to 2000 when the program last tasted success.

Expectations have always been on the higher side in Queens, especially with the abundance of talent on their rosters. However, the hiring of Rick Pitino created significant offseason buzz, elevating expectations. Despite this, chemistry issues persist for the Red Storm, becoming evident through their defensive struggles and offensive inconsistencies.

The Red Storm’s current campaign began with surrendering 74 points to Stony Brook and an ugly loss to Michigan, pointing to their defensive vulnerabilities and offensive weaknesses.

With Joel Soriano, the sole returning player from last season, playing through multiple injuries, it’s a challenging phase for St. John’s. The team’s newcomers need time to acclimate to a higher level of competition, as exhibited in their initial games.

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Dayton seems to be in familiar territory, dealing with the loss of one of their key players, Malachi Smith, due to a knee injury. This adds pressure on junior DaRon Holmes II, who will likely face increased defensive attention.

Despite this setback, Dayton secured a narrow victory against LSU in the opening-round Charleston Classic fixture, powered by strong performances from Nate Santos and Javon Bennett.

However, this success raises questions about LSU’s strength, given their recent loss to Nicholls at home.

While coach Anthony Grant has significant experience, their performances after Smith’s absence last year paint a concerning picture for Dayton’s prospects.

Conversely, their competitive game against Northwestern offers a glimmer of hope, indicating that Dayton’s fate might hinge on Holmes’ contributions and the ability of their guards to compensate for Smith’s absence.

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For full transparency, I attended St. John’s, and historically, betting against the Johnnies has been profitable. However, this time feels different.

While St. John’s began the season below expectations, their guard play gives them an edge over Dayton. The Johnnies’ proficiency on the offensive glass could offset Holmes’ scoring prowess, despite Soriano’s injuries.

Media focus on Pitino has inflated the Johnnies’ betting value, but I’ll place my bet on their moneyline in this matchup.

Prepare for an intense under-the-radar semifinal game.

Pick: St. John’s -110

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