The Big 12 also inherited some misplaced Pac-12 teams and now features 16 total teams in the conference. Although powerhouses like Oregon, USC and Washington entered the Big Ten, the Big 12 added some very solid football teams as well. With plenty of new faces, these teams do not play everyone in their conference anymore, and thus teams could meet for the first time the conference championship game. Let’s take a look at who was added and who broke into the Top 25.
Big 12 Additions
- Arizona State
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Utah
The Big 12 has recently undergone significant changes, with BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF only entering their second season in the conference. This will also be the inaugural year without the participation of the Longhorns or Sooners. With these adjustments, the conference title is definitely up for contention, and numerous teams believe they have the potential to clinch the Big 12 Title.
Big 12 Ranked Teams
- #12 Utah Utes
- #17 Oklahoma State Cowboys
- #18 Kansas State Wildcats
- #21 Arizona Wildcats
- #22 Kansas Jayhawks
Surprisingly, the Colorado Buffalos are not included in this list, and quite honestly, they don’t merit inclusion. Despite receiving one vote to be in the poll, they failed to live up to the high expectations set for them last year. Now, in their second season under Coach Prime, they face tougher competition in a deeper conference, further complicated by an unhelpful schedule. More on this will follow shortly.
Two other teams that nearly made it to the Top 25 but definitely secured a spot in the Top 30 are Iowa State and West Virginia. If we consider the overall odds to win this conference, it is clear that Vegas too has a favorable opinion of the Cyclones.
Odds to Win Big 12 Championship
Is it possible for Cam Rising to fully recover against these challenging Big 12 opponents?
Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, and industry leader in the sports betting world offering a wide variety of markets and the best odds at any book. Use code BNEWS and sign up today for a 50% deposit match up to $1,000 AND $10 CASH instantly in your account.
- Utah +325
- Kansas State +400
- Oklahoma State +600
- UCF +650
- Kansas +850
- Iowa State +900
- Arizona +1200
- Texas Tech +1800
- TCU +1800
- West Virginia +1800
- Colorado +2000
This conference unquestionably has the highest number of potential champions, lacking an obvious favorite as seen in other conferences. Six teams have odds shorter than 10-1, including two that aren’t even within the Top 25 rankings! Despite UCF being the 4th favorite to clinch the Big 12, they failed to get a single vote for the AP Rankings. Will the Knights be able to silence their doubters this year?
The Rest of the Conference
- Baylor 66-1
- Cincinnati 75-1
- Arizona State 100-1
- Houston 100-1
- BYU 100-1
It appears that we can already dismiss these five teams from the championship contention, but anything can happen. Stranger things have transpired in the past. It’s challenging to fully comprehend this conference, given my strong conviction that the scheduling will significantly impact these teams’ performance. Let’s delve into the details of the teams to identify a potential conference champion!
Big 12 Team Previews
Is it possible for Noah Fifita and the Wildcats to surprise some teams in the Big 12?
Although we won’t discuss all 16 teams in this conference, we will definitely delve into the top half of the league!
Arizona Wildcats
Newcomers to the conference may find their position on the odds board surprisingly lower than their #21 ranking would indicate, highlighting the depth of competition within this conference. Led by sophomore QB Noah Fifita, the Wildcats are moving into the Big 12. Despite having matches against three of the five lowest-ranked projected teams in the conference, their three toughest challenges will be away games.
The Wildcats have their 3rd and 4th games of the season against Kansas State and Utah, respectively. This could potentially lead to two early losses for the team. Later in the season, they will be traveling a great distance to play against UCF, who, according to Vegas’ predictions, could potentially dominate the Big 12 conference. The success of Arizona largely depends on Fifita’s leadership. However, if they face difficulties on the road, their journey could be challenging.
Is it possible for Campbell and the Cyclones to quiet the skeptics this season?
Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones present as another under-the-radar team, albeit with a schedule that raises some concerns for me. They are set to face #25 Iowa away in the second week of the season. This is followed by matches against UCF, an away game against #22 Kansas, and they conclude the year with an away game against #12 Utah and a home game against #18 Kansas State. Matt Campbell has a significant number of returning starters, but the question remains – can the sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht lead the Cyclones to conquer this incredibly challenging conference?
Though the Cyclones are slated to play Houston, Baylor and Cincinnati, who are projected to be three of the five lowest ranked teams in the Big 12, I believe there are other more formidable teams with a higher probability of winning the conference title.
Can Jalon Daniels maintain his health this year?
Kansas Jayhawks
Jayhawk football is back in action, so brace yourselves. Following their impressive season last year, quarterback Jalon Daniels is at the helm of a reenergized Jayhawk team. The team boasts a significant number of returning starters from their victorious 9-4 Bowl squad last year on both the offensive and defensive fronts. However, questions linger around Daniels’ ability to stay injury-free throughout the season. The track record of Daniels never having played 10 games in a season for Kansas, coupled with his recovery from injury, raises concerns. Thankfully, he has substantial support on the offensive team, which could make the Jayhawks a wildcard this year.
Additionally, they have an incredibly weak schedule. Kansas does not face Utah, Arizona, or Oklahoma State, with their two most challenging games being against Kansas State and Iowa State. Currently, the Wildcats are the only ranked opponent on the Jayhawk’s schedule, prompting us to take a chance on +850 odds. The Jayhawks also have the advantage of playing against 4 of the projected bottom 5 teams in the Big 12. If they make it to the Conference Championship and face the Utah Utes, we could have a phenomenal hedging opportunity.
Last year, Avery Johnson assumed the role of the Wildcats’ starter as a freshman.
Kansas State Wildcats
The other team from Kansas, who will be starting Avery Johnson as QB, is hoping his proven running abilities will lead them to another Big 12 Championship. However, it remains to be seen whether he can adequately throw the ball. Their journey to the championship won’t be easy, as they have one of the more challenging schedules in the conference. Although Kansas State will face 4 of the Big 12’s bottom 5 teams, they’ll also have to contend with 3 ranked opponents and Iowa State.
The Wildcats now play host to #21 Arizona, #17 Oklahoma State, and #22 Kansas, with their most challenging away game being in Ames at the year’s end. However, teams such as Kansas, Oklahoma State, and Utah are faced with significantly easier schedules, making their victories more vital for the Wildcats. Depending on the league’s subsequent developments, it’s not unthinkable that a team with 2 losses could qualify for the Big 12 Championship, with the Wildcats being a potential candidate. If Avery Johnson successfully pilots this high-scoring offense, Kansas State might even discreetly find themselves in the CFP.
Is it possible for Gordon and the Cowboys to dominate the rest of the Big 12?
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Arguably, the most overlooked team nationally is graced with the country’s top Running Back, Ollie Gordon II. The Cowboys’ relatively light schedule, featuring only two ranked rivals this year, is an additional advantage. In a significant break from tradition, Oklahoma State will not be competing against their in-state adversary this College Football season, unless they both make it to the CFP. Even so, Oklahoma State will host #12 Utah and tackle #18 Kansas State in back-to-back weeks.
Should the Cowboys secure victories in both of those games, they could be in for an easy ride, given that their opponents – Arkansas, West Virginia, and Texas Tech – have all been underwhelming. I predict Oklahoma State and Ollie Gordon will have a field day against these teams. If the Cowboys can maintain a 5-0 record at the start of the year, defeating Arkansas, Utah, and KSU, they could well be the favorites to play in the Big 12 Championship game. I anticipate them ending this season on a high note with seven consecutive victories, considering the latter part of their schedule. With Texas and Oklahoma no longer posing a threat, I see the Cowboys as my top choice to clinify the Big 12 this season.
Can Rising guide the Utes to a Big 12 Championship in his comeback season?
Utah Utes
The front-runners to clinch the conference are the newly arrived players headed by a QB making a comeback from an injury. Cam Rising aspires to regain his former prowess this season and steer the Utes towards a Big 12 Championship. While Rising helms a skilled offense, it’s the defense of Utah that truly captivates me.
Indeed, they have a relatively easy schedule, with only two ranked opponents currently on their list. Utah is set to play against #17 Oklahoma State and host #21 Arizona on consecutive weeks in September, tackling their toughest matches early on. The year culminates with Utah hosting Iowa State and playing UCF on the road. This could pose a challenge as the season progresses, particularly considering the amount of travel involved in this conference.
Although I acknowledge the possibility of Utah emerging victorious in the Big 12, I believe there are a few other teams with simpler routes likely to reach the pinnacle instead.
5/5 Review Rating 50% up to $1,000
Bonus Details »
$10 Cash Bonus with code “BNEWS”
Sports, Casino, Poker & Racebook
Final Big 12 Predictions
- #1 Oklahoma State
- #2 Kansas
- #3 Kansas State
- #4 Utah
- #5 Iowa State
- #6 Arizona
- #7 UCF
- #8 Texas Tech
- #9 West Virginia
- #10 TCU
- #11 Baylor
- #12 Colorado
- #13 Cincinnati
- #14 Arizona State
- #15 Houston
- #16 BYU
Still Didn’t Get Your NCAA Football Fix?
Here at Betting News, we offer Free Expert Picks for every major sports league. We also host daily streams on our Twitch Channel with our best bets, as well as sweat out games on Playback! Be sure to tune into everything we have going on at our Youtube, TikTok, and X pages as well.
For additional NCAA Football content, explore the pages below.
- NCAA Football 2024 Preview
- ACC 2024 Preview
- SEC 2024 Preview
- Big Ten Preview
- NCAA Football Expert Picks
Get FREE Picks and Props Weekly
Sign up for
THE WEEKENDER NEWSLETTER
