Connecticut Huskies vs Saint Johns Red Storm Picks and Predictions for Saturday March 14 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 03/14/2026, 01:30 AM ET

The Connecticut Huskies face the Saint John’s Red Storm in the Big East Tournament Final on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 PM ET with television coverage on FOX. UConn is favored by -2.5 with the total set at 140.5, while the Huskies are -162 on the moneyline and Saint John’s is +136. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more daily betting insights and predictions.

Huskies Aim to Cap Dominant Season With Title

The UConn Huskies enter the Big East Tournament Final with a 29-4 overall record and a 17-3 conference record. UConn advanced to the championship after recently winning over Georgetown 67-51 in the Big East Tournament semifinal. Over their last five games, the Huskies have recently won over Georgetown, Xavier, Seton Hall, and Saint John’s while recently losing to Marquette.

UConn has been one of the most complete teams in the conference this season, averaging 78.6 points per game while allowing just 64.9 points per game. The Huskies shoot 49% from the field and average 36.6 rebounds and 18.5 assists per game. Defensively they add 5.3 blocks and 7.0 steals per contest, making them one of the most disruptive defensive teams in the Big East.

In their semifinal victory over Georgetown, UConn leaned on a strong performance from Braylon Mullins, who led the team with 21 points. On the boards, Silas Demary Jr. led the Huskies with nine rebounds, helping UConn control the glass while limiting Georgetown’s second chances. With a balanced attack and defensive discipline, UConn showed the type of performance that has made them a championship contender all season.

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Red Storm Look to Continue Strong Tournament Run

The Saint John’s Red Storm come into the Big East Tournament Final with a 27-6 overall record and an 18-2 conference record. Saint John’s advanced to the championship after recently winning over Seton Hall 78-68 in the semifinal round. The Red Storm have been on a strong run recently, recently winning over Seton Hall twice, Providence, Georgetown, and Villanova.

Saint John’s has been one of the most productive offensive teams in the Big East this season, averaging 82.0 points per game while allowing 70.5 points per game. The Red Storm shoot 45% from the field and average 39.1 rebounds and 16.4 assists per game. Defensively they contribute 4.8 blocks and 7.8 steals per game, using their length and athleticism to generate turnovers and push the tempo.

In their semifinal victory over Seton Hall, Saint John’s received a big performance from Zuby Ejiofor, who led the team with 20 points. On the boards, Bryce Hopkins led the Red Storm with seven rebounds, helping Saint John’s win the rebounding battle and control the interior. The Red Storm also shot an efficient 52% from the field in that game, showing the offensive rhythm they will need to challenge UConn in the final.

Connecticut vs Saint Johns Pick

Connecticut vs Saint Johns Spread Pick

Pick: UConn -2.5

UConn enters this matchup with the stronger defensive profile and a proven ability to control games on both ends of the floor. The Huskies held Georgetown to just 51 points in the semifinal while dominating the glass, and their defensive intensity should translate well against Saint John’s. While the Red Storm have a strong offense, UConn’s balance and experience in high-pressure games should allow them to cover the small spread.

Connecticut vs Saint Johns Total Pick

Pick: Over 140.5

I like the over in this matchup because both teams have efficient offenses capable of scoring in multiple ways. Saint John’s plays at a faster pace and averages over 82 points per game, while UConn has the shooting efficiency and depth to contribute consistently as well. With two talented Big East teams in a championship setting, I expect both offenses to find scoring runs that push this game over the total.

Final Score Prediction: UConn 76, Saint John’s 72

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