Preseason Big 12 football talk typically focuses on two schools: Oklahoma and Texas. Despite another offseason of major changes for the conference, the Sooners and Longhorns are still garnering headlines as the latest 2012 Big 12 Championship Odds have the two teams listed as -125 and +285 moneyline favorites, respectively, to win the revamped league.
Big 12 Favorites
Oklahoma Sooners (-125): The Sooners were a heavy favorite to win the Big 12 last year, but they disappointed, finishing 9-3 overall and 6-3 in conference. The odds makers are expecting a rebound from Big Game Bob and his team, which returns 49 lettermen, including a potential Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Landry Jones.
Texas Longhorns (+285): After posting double digit wins from 2001 to 2009, Mack Brown’s Longhorns totaled just 13 wins the past two seasons. Pundits are expecting Texas’ mild swoon to end this year, though. Brown lost 23 lettermen, but he welcomes one of the nation’s top recruiting classes to Austin. Those in the know also envision a more stable quarterback situation for Texas in 2012. Sophomore David Ash won the job in the spring and should provide an upgrade over what was a less than dynamic duo of himself and Case McCoy last season.
TCU Horned Frogs (+500): This Big 12 newcomer has been one of the best programs in college football for the better part of a decade. The Horned Frogs have won 11 or more games in six of the last seven seasons and they are 6-1 in bowl games during that stretch. The competition level certainly goes up for TCU, but history says Head Coach Gary Patterson will have his team ready for the challenge.
West Virginia Mountaineers (+600): The Mountaineers, another new addition to the conference, may be the best play on the board at +600 odds (risk $100 to win $600). Head Coach Dana Holgorsen, who previously worked as OC under Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State, guided the school to a 10-3 record and Orange Bowl victory in his first year running the program. He brings back 16 starters, including eight from an offense that averaged 37.6 points per game.
Kansas State Wildcats (+1000): If the Mountaineers do not represent the best value, then the Wildcats do at +1000 odds. Head Coach Bill Synder is one of the best in the nation and he welcomes back 18 starters, including quarterback Collin Klien, from last season’s 10-3 team.
Odds to Win the Big 12 Championship
Oklahoma -125
Texas +285
TCU +500
West Virginia +600
Kansas State +1000
Oklahoma State +2200
Texas Tech +2800
Baylor +3500
Iowa State +5000
Kansas +10000
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TiSB: Cantor's Mike Colbert Talks World's First NFL Game Lines: Last week Cantor opened up the first 2012 NFL lines in the world - Cantor's VP Mike Colbert discusses the teams they value the best and worst, and also shares breaking news on how the Wiseguys have been betting so far - with host RJ Bell PLAY | DISCUSS | DOWNLOAD (to save: right mouse click, and select "save target as")