2019 Big 12 Conference Title Odds, Predictions & Pick

I know what you might be saying — where are the rest of the teams in the Big 12? Despite losing Nebraska and Colorado, the team never expanded again to get back to a dozen teams, as the major teams in the conference do not want to share revenues, and so instead they got a waiver from the NCAA to host a championship game despite not having the requisite 12 teams. Given that the conference schedule is a true round robin (which means that you should have a true champion after the regular season), the lack of a 13th game for the conference champion was perceived as a problem as far as the deliberations of the committee picking the teams to appear in the College Football Playoff. The conference once was divided into North and South divisions but now just features the top two teams in the conference standings in the conference championship. Last year, this meant that Texas, who beat Oklahoma in regular season play, needed to beat them again to win the Big 12, but they fell short against the Sooners. Who will win this year? We have the 2019 Big 12 title odds for each team along with sports betting thoughts for some of the top teams.

2019 Big 12 Conference Title Odds, Predictions & Pick

A combined 2⃣3⃣ #Big12FB players have been named to the @NagurskiTrophy and @outlandtrophy Watch Lists. 👀🏆➡️ https://t.co/GxOChUuSYl. pic.twitter.com/9PmklmepBN

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) July 23, 2019

• Oklahoma                                                                                           -125
• Texas                                                                                                  +250
• Iowa State, West Virginia                                                                   +1200
• Oklahoma State, TCU                                                                        +1800
• Baylor, Texas Tech                                                                            +2300
• Kansas State                                                                                      +3000
• Kansas                                                                                                +10000

Who Are the Favorites?

Oklahoma is the favorite for a couple of reasons. Lincoln Riley has emerged as an offensive genius in Norman, and so despite the fact that the Sooners have some major questions on the defensive side of the ball, that offensive scheme works well enough to have the Sooners listed among the nation’s elite teams each year. He has guided Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray to Heisman Trophy seasons in each of the past two years, and now Jalen Hurts has transferred in from Alabama to run the offense. Hurts is not quite as gifted a passer as Mayfield or Murray, but he did win Offensive Player of the Year once in the SEC, and he has made it to two College Football Playoff championship games, so he definitely has the experience to lead the Sooners’ offense. But can they get past Texas again? Texas returns Sam Ehlinger at quarterback, with the Longhorns’ quarterback controversy ended once and for all, as Shane Buechele has transferred up Interstate 35 to Dallas, joining SMU to lead the Mustangs’ offense. A problem that could hinder the Longhorns’ progress is an offensive line that will feature four new starters around center Zach Shackelford, who is returning for his senior season. Parker Braun is a graduate transfer who should have one of the guard positions locked down, but we will not know how well the line blocks until games get underway. Ehlinger not only ran the passing game but was the best on the team at scoring on the ground, so the play of the line will need to improve. Coach Tom Herman says that he plans to use his running backs more in 2019, which should ease things for Ehlinger, but then there are also questions on defense, which has no big stars in its unit but prospered nonetheless with a “horde” approach. If that works again, they could find themselves in the top two in the conference, but these are big questions for a conference championship contender.

Who Should You Keep an Eye Out For?

West Virginia bid farewell to coach Dana Holgorsen, who had a reputation for running a wide-open offense — but largely ignoring the defensive side of the ball. Holgorsen has taken his style to lead the University of Houston, making the interesting decision to leave a Power 5 school for the American Athletic Conference. Neal Brown comes from Troy to take the reins after putting up a 35-16 record there in four seasons, including a 10-3 slate in 2018. His team won bowl games in 2017, 2018 and 2019, but it will be interesting to see how his scheme works in the Big 12 — and it is also interesting that this team remains so how high on the odds list with a new coach. Iowa State brings back quarterback Brock Purdy, who has the top passing efficiency of any returning quarterback in the Big 12. The whole offensive line is back, with four seniors. The defensive line also returns with two All-Big 12 selections. Tailback David Montgomery and wideout Hakeem Butler have moved on, but there should be enough depth in the program to fill those holes. The Cyclones have shown, year in and year out, that they can make things interesting in the Big 12, and this could be the year when they take advantage of questions in the top programs and emerge as champions.