Big 12 Tournament Odds: Baylor Looks to Bounce Back
Bears to Get Serious Test from TCU

The Baylor Bears didn’t start Big 12 Conference play the way they expected. The Bears were upset by Iowa State on the road and things don’t get a whole lot easier. Baylor has No. 17 on tap Wednesday and a tough Kansas State team on Saturday. At least those two games are at home. But those who took Kansas +200 in the preseason Big 12 tournament odds have to be happy seeing the Cyclones knock off Baylor. This week’s Big 12 betting roundup has some pretty decent games on the schedule.
Wednesday, Jan. 4
TCU Horned Frogs vs Baylor Bears
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Ferrell Center (Waco, Texas)
Streaming: ESPN2
No. 17 TCU (12-1) visits No. 19 Baylor (10-3) in a big game for the Bears. Baylor can’t afford to fall to 0-2 in conference play, especially considering they were co-favorites in the preseason Big 12 tournament odds. But Baylor has shown a tendency to bounce back from a loss this season. The Bears defeated UCLA and Gonzaga the game after their two previous defeats, which sets them up nicely here. The Horned Frogs have played a woefully weak schedule but were tied for fourth in the preseason Big 12 tournament odds, so they have some talent. But with TCU off a victory against Texas Tech, believe the Bears offer decent value at the opening line of Baylor -5.5.
Iowa State Cyclones vs Oklahoma Sooners
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Lloyd Noble Center (Norman, Oklahoma)
Streaming: ESPN2
Iowa State (10-2) tries to avoid a letdown as the Cyclones visit the Sooners (9-4) in Norman. The opening line had the Sooners -4.5 and Oklahoma is now -4. Oklahoma has played a tougher schedule and get a huge edge offensively. But the Cyclones get the edge on defense. This game is going to come down to turnovers. Iowa State is No. 1 in the country at forcing turnovers and Oklahoma doesn’t take care of the ball. The Sooners’ Joe Bamisile is another who has fallen victim to the college basketball injuries that take place this time of year. He’s missed the last two games and his status is unknown for this one. Oklahoma could use him against the Iowa State defense.
Saturday, Jan. 7
Kansas Jayhawks vs West Virginia Mountaineers
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: WVU Coliseum (Morgantown, West Virginia)
Streaming: Big12/ESPN+
An exciting game here, where the No. 3 Jayhawks should be the slightest of favorites against a tough West Virginia squad. Kansas gets slight edges offensively and defensively but WVU Coliseum is a tough place for visitors. The Mountaineers have won all seven home games this year but the quality of competition leaves a bit to be desired. Both teams have played decent schedules, so this one could be decided by the number of times West Virginia can get to the foul line. The Mountaineers score 20.7% of their points from the foul line, compared to 13.8% for Kansas. If the Mountaineers can get to the line, an upset isn’t out of the question.
Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma State Cowboys
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Gallagher Iba Arena (Stillwater, Oklahoma)
Streaming: ESPNU
The Longhorns should be slight favorites in this one, which is a pretty good game to start off the day in the Big 12 Conference. The teams are pretty equal on defense, but the Longhorns get the edge offensively. Texas is No. 10 in adjusted offensive efficiency, while the Cowboys are No. 65. But the Cowboys are playing well right now, with the NCAAB scores showing a 67-65 loss at Kansas and then a 67-60 win over West Virginia. This is another one where turnovers could have a big impact on the final outcome. Oklahoma State is No. 319 in committing turnovers, while Texas is No. 12 in forcing them. If the Longhorns’ pressure gets to the Cowboys, the Longhorns are going to be tough to beat.
Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Tech Red Raiders
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: United Supermarkets Arena (Lubbock, Texas)
Streaming: Big12/ESPN+
The Oklahoma Sooners visit Texas Tech in a decent game between two pretty evenly matched team. Texas Tech should be small home favorites in this one. The Red Raiders can force turnovers but make more than their share on the offensive end. Oklahoma ranks well down the list in forcing turnovers and stopping the 2-pointer is another weak link for Oklahoma. Texas Tech is No. 10 in the nation in 2-point shooting. The Red Raiders offer some value if they’re not favored by more than 3.5 points.
Iowa State Cyclones vs TCU Horned Frogs
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Schollmaier Arena (Fort Worth, Texas)
Streaming: ESPNU
Another good game, as the Big 12 arguably has four of the top eight or nine games of the day. Expect to see the Horned Frogs favored by 3 to 4 points with a fairly low total under 130. Both teams can play defense better than they can score. Neither team shoots the 3-pointer well and both can defend the outside shot. If the defenses can keep the opposition from scoring in bunches, this one could be worth a look at the under, as points should be tough to come by.
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