Big 12 Outlook: Can Arizona or Utah Win Title in Debut Season?

Three-time Big 12 champion Kansas State is tied with Utah at +330 for the shortest odds of winning the Big 12 title according to the BetUS sportsbook odds. Kansas (+600), Arizona (+750) and Texas Tech (+800) are among the other teams to keep an eye on.

The first game with a Big 12 team against another team from one of the power conferences comes on Aug. 30 when Texas Christian heads to California to meet up with Stanford. Colorado opened as an early eight-point betting favorite in its season opener against FCS power North Dakota State.

Utah is tied for 18th at +5000 in the odds of winning the national championship followed by Kansas State (+7000), Arizona (+10000), Colorado (+15000), Kansas (+15000), and Oklahoma State (+15000).

The Big 12 is second at +275 in the odds to have the most teams selected to play in the 12-team playoff.

Newcomer Among Teams to Beat

Although other Pac-12 teams usually have higher-ranked recruiting classes, Utah was always a factor in the conference race. Will that carry over to the Big 12?

Utah is happy to get quarterback Cameron Rising back for another year. He is showing up in the Las Vegas odds among the Heisman Trophy candidates. Second-leading rusher Jaylon Glover also returns.

Utah spring game thoughts:

-Cameron Rising looked really good
-Pass game much improved as WR’s Parks and Singer also stood out
-Defense held out many top players
-CB transfer Calhoun flashed
-They love their young OT’s Fano and Lomu (both high 4-stars)
-Should be Big 12 favorite

— Brad Powers (@BradPowers7) April 29, 2024

Kansas State looks to be the best of the holdover teams in the Big 12. Running back DJ Giddens is one of the few known commodities on offense. Losing quarterback Will Howard to Ohio State is a big blow for the Wildcats.

Both Kansas State and Utah come in at +330 in the odds of winning the Big 12 title. For those who might be interested in seeing which team will get the upper hand in the regular-season meeting, we’re sorry to say they are not scheduled to meet during the 2024 season. Perhaps they will clash in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Kansas State had +125 odds to exceed 9½ wins during the regular season with Utah at -125 to top 9½ wins. Arizona has -110 odds to go over eight regular-season wins.

Contenders Include Kansas, Texas Tech

Kansas and Texas Tech both bring back some key players from a season ago.

Kansas got off to a 5-1 start but lost three games in the second half of the season by seven points or less.

Texas Tech won four of its last five games to finish the season 7-6.

Kansas is third at +650 in the Big 12 title odds with Texas Tech fifth at +800.

Devin Neal is back for Kansas after rushing for 1,280 yards and 16 touchdowns during the 2023 season. Top receiver Lawrence Arnold also returns for the Jayhawks. They do need to replace 2023 sack leader Austin Booker and leading tackler Kenny Logan Jr.

Texas Tech has quarterback Behren Morton, 1,500-yard rusher Tahj Brooks and top tackler Ben Roberts all slated to return.

Newcoming Arizona could be the wild card in the Big 12 race with quarterback Noah Fifita leading the way. It might be harder to find a better value than Arizona at +750 to win the Big 12.

More Hype or Hope with Deion, Colorado?

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders knows how to attract attention. Can he win some football games?

Colorado is still active in the transfer portal but now it is losing key players as well.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders and receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter are two of the most talented players in college football. Can Colorado stop enough teams to become a factor in the Big 12 race after ending the 2023 season by losing six games in a row? Four of those losses came by seven points or less.

The top-rated transfer either coming or leaving the Big 12 is No. 21 Cormani McClain, a former defensive back at Colorado. The Buffaloes have the top incoming transfer as former Pittsburgh defensive lineman Samuel Okuniola is now part of the 2024 Colorado team as well.

Unless teams get wins added to their total based on self promotion, we’d be wary of Colorado at +3500 to win the Big 12.

UCF, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, and TCU all range from +1000-+1800 in the Big 12 title odds.

Bet at your own peril on any of those teams.

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