:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71776378/usa_today_19642332.0.jpg "Pick on the spread for St. John's-Villanova on December 21")
The Villanova Wildcats and St. John's Red Storm tip off Big East conference play on Wednesday in Philadelphia with both teams looking to keep their respective winning streaks going.
St. John's Red Storm vs. Villanova Wildcats (-4.5, 146)
Villanova enters having won four straight games after a 2-5 start to the season thanks to defensive improvements, allowing 66 points or fewer in all four games in this streak.
The Wildcats also got Star freshman Cam Whitmore in the rotation after missing the first seven games of the season. Whitmore is averaging 15.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game with a team-high 1.3 steal per game.
Whitmore's addition helps a Villanova team that was lacking depth on the bench and helped a defense that is ranked 261st in the country in 3-point shooting percentage, but in the last three games has allowed opponents to make just 29.5% of their 3-point shots.