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Teams in the bottom half of the Big East standings look to turn around their fortunes when the Butler Bulldogs meet the St. John's Red Storm on Tuesday. The Bulldogs (10-7, 2-4 Big East), who are just 2-3 on the road this season, have won two of their past three games overall. The Red Storm (11-6, 1-5) will be out to snap a five-game losing streak. St. John's has been tough at home, going 8-2 at Carnesecca Arena.

Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. Butler leads the all-time series 10-9, but St. John's has won three of the last four meetings, including both last season. The Red Storm are 3-point favorites in the latest Butler vs. St. John's odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 149. Before making any St. John's vs. Butler picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters Week 9 of the season 34-18 on all-top rated college basketball picks, returning more than $1,000 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen profitable returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Butler vs. St. John's and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for St. John's vs. Butler:

  • Butler vs. St. John's spread: St. John's -3
  • Butler vs. St. John's over/under: 149 points
  • BUT: The Bulldogs are 9-2 against the spread in their last 11 games following an ATS loss
  • STJ: The Over is 6-1 in the Red Storm's last seven home games against a team with a losing record
  • Butler vs. St. John's picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why St. John's can cover

The Red Storm have five players averaging 9.5 points per game or better. Junior guard Andre Curbelo is one of those players, averaging 10.5 points, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He scored 12 points and dished out four assists in the loss at Providence. He has reached double-figure scoring in nine games, including a season-high 23 in a 76-69 overtime win at Syracuse on Nov. 22.

Junior guard Posh Alexander, who has started 15 of the 16 games he has played in, is coming off a season-high-tying 14-point, five-rebound effort at Providence on Saturday. It was his third double-figure scoring game in the last four, and the ninth on the season. The other two 14-point performances were at No. 23 Iowa State on Dec. 4 and against Merrimack on Nov. 7. For the season, Alexander averages 9.5 points, 4.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.

Why Butler can cover 

The Bulldogs are led by sophomore guard Jayden Taylor, who is coming off a 14-point, six-rebound performance in the loss at Seton Hall. Taylor averages 13.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.2 assists per game. He is connecting on 44.6% of his field goals, including 37.2% from 3-point range, and 82.5% from the foul line. Taylor has done much of his best work on the road, where he averages 16.6 points and 1.4 assists per game.

Senior center Manny Bates, a transfer from North Carolina State, is one of four Bulldogs averaging double-digit scoring. Bates averages 13.2 points, six rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.5 assists per game. He has reached double-figure scoring in each of his last four games, including a 15-point, six-rebound performance at Georgetown in an 80-51 win on Jan. 1. 

How to make St. John's vs. Butler picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 147 combined points. It has also generated an against the spread pick that hits in well over 60% of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine

So who wins Butler vs. St. John's? And which side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is 34-18 on its top-rated college basketball picks this season, and find out.