Free March Madness Picks: DePaul Blue Demons VS St. Johns Red Storm

Looking at the rankings, the St Johns Red Storm and DePaul Blue Demons ranked 15th and 16th respectively , in Big East scoring margin. The Red Storm had lost four straight conference games before Saturday's 66-63 non-league win over UCLA, but their last victory in conference action came against the Blue Demons, a 87-81 triumph in Chicago on February 1.

Freshman guard DAngelo Harrison led St Johns in that victory with a career-high 29 points. DePaul has dropped six in a row and 11 of its last 12, falling in overtime to No. 18 Louisville on Saturday after leading for most of regulations.

DePaul Blue Demons at St Johns Red Storm

When: 9:00 PM ET, Monday, February 20, 2012

Where: Carnesecca Arena, Jamaica, New York

The Red Storm opened as a 5.5 point favorites on several online sports books. Don't forget to shop for the best lines if you are planning to bet on the game. You can check out the lines at Sportsbook.com and read free march madness betting picks article like this to come up with a solid opinion on the game and bet wisely.

DePaul Blue Demons (11-15)

This team has a solid offense with the help of sophomore forward Cleveland Melvin (17.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and sophomore guard Brandon Young (14.8 ppg, 4.8 apg) leading the way. The only thing that held the Blue Demons back would be their tendency to give up far too much at the other end – it ranks a distant last among Big East teams in points allowed (76.7) and opponent field-goal percentage (48.5), and the team has been even more generous since the league play started (82.2 points allowed, 51.1 opponent field-goal percentage). The Blue Demons are forcing 16.4 turnovers, third in the Big East.

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St. Johns Red Storm (11-16)

The young Red Storm had trouble to the offensive end, averaging 60.5 points over its last four games and is shooting just 27.9 percent from three-point range this season, last in the conference. St. Johns is also at the bottom of the league assists (10.9), assist-turnover ratio (0.8), three-pointers made (4.1) and three-point percentage defense (35.4). A pair of freshmen has been carrying the load of the offensive end, with guard DAngelo Harrison averaging 16.9 points and small forward Moe Harkless adding 15.7 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds.

Free March Madness Betting Picks: Red Storm 83, Blue Demons 72