Duke vs. St. John’s: Odds for 2026 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

A week ago, Duke was the national championship favorite. The appetite to pick Duke – both in bracket pools and in online sports betting – hit a high point for this season.

But as news of Duke’s injury concerns became more widespread and the Blue Devils struggled to dispatch No. 16 seed Siena and No. 9 seed TCU, Duke’s market power quickly waned.

Friday’s game against pressure-heavy St. John’s will be the toughest test of the season.

Duke vs. St. John’s Odds

• Point Spread: Duke -6.5
• Moneyline: Duke -285  |  St. John’s +230
• Total: 142.5

Duke vs. St. John’s: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

Duke has had more than one injury issue over the last month, but the biggest has been the stress fracture of point guard Caleb Foster. 

Foster had the fracture surgically repaired on March 8. Foster is said to have an “outside chance” to return for Friday’s game, 17 days after he had surgery. I imagine this is a little bit like how I have an “outside chance” to one day become the CEO of BetMGM. 

In Foster’s absence, Cayden Boozer has stepped into a more prominent role on the team, and brother Cameron is marginally more involved in some of the ball-handling responsibilities. 

St. John’s will look to capitalize on Duke’s missing starter with its pressure defense. The Johnnies ranked eighth nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency and 25th in opponents’ effective field goal percentage. St. John’s opponents average 19 turnovers per game.