Rick Pitino and John Calipari, two influential figures in college basketball, will face off in this crucial matchup. Pitino will guide the No. 2 seed St. John’s Red Storm against the No. 10 seed Arkansas Razorbacks in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

St. John’s, with a record of 31-4, aims for its first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999, having become the sixth program Pitino has led to the NCAA Tournament—a new NCAA record.

Arkansas (21-13) is looking to return to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five years, marking the first such appearance under Calipari in his inaugural year. Notably, Arkansas’s leading scorer, Adou Thiero, is uncertain due to a knee issue as he missed the first round.

Game Details
The match from the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I., is scheduled to tip off at 2:40 PM ET, with the Red Storm favored by 7.5 points, having a total points over/under at 146.5. For predictions on the game, you can view the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model by checking here.

Betting Insights

• Spread: St. John’s -7.5
• Over/under: 146.5 points
• Money line: St. John’s -313, Arkansas +251
• St. John’s is 7-2 against the spread (ATS) over the last nine games.
• Arkansas is 4-1 ATS in its last five as an underdog.

Key Player Performances

RJ Luis Jr. led with 22 points and 8 rebounds against Omaha in the first round, contributing significantly to St. John’s impressive defensive record this season.

Arkansas, rejuvenated through its new lineup under Calipari, is coming off an upset victory over Kansas in the first round, spearheaded by Jonas Aidoo’s performance.

How to Make Picks
The SportsLine model leans towards the under on total points, with a prediction of 145 combined points while offering additional insights that perform well over 50% in simulations.