Big 12 Conference Odds, Oklahoma and Texas Currently the Teams to Beat

An Early Look at How the Big 12 Football Season Could Play Out

Big 12 Conference odds are alway fun to watch and this season is no exception. Coming off a football season when Baylor, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma finished in the top 10 in both major national polls while six of the 10 spent time as ranked teams. The Big 12 also finished 5-2 in bowl games.

Something to remember: There were also no NCAAF Big 12 players taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The coach and most highly touted player from the program with the largest national profile bolted to Southern California making things interesting heading into the 2022 season.

Even with longtime Brent Venables taking over at Oklahoma with no previous head-coaching experience, the Sooners are currently the favorite to win conference title in 2022 just ahead of Texas according to the NCAAF Conference odds. Defending champion Baylor comes in with the fourth-best odds following its surprising run to the 2021 conference title.

One of the big questions is whether Oklahoma and Texas will negotiate early exits to the Southeastern Conference. Right now, the Sooners and Longhorns are set to become SEC members in 2025. Brigham Young, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF are scheduled to become Big 12 members in 2023.

Here’s a look at how the college football lines see the Big 12 race at the current time.

Oklahoma Sooners

• 2021 record: 11-2
• 2021 conference record: 7-2
• Head coach: Brent Venables
• Odds to win conference title: +150

From the moment that the stunning news broke about head coach Lincoln Riley bolting for USC, it was evident that things were not going to be the same for the Sooners.

Quarterback Caleb Williams, who figures to be one of the frontrunners in the Heisman Trophy race, was one of three players to follow Riley to USC.

Oklahoma lost three of its top four receivers. Michael Woods is off to the NFL while Mario Williams and Jadon Haselwood transferred to USC and Arkansas.

Oklahoma brought in more transfers than it lost. The Sooners finished fourth in the ranking of incoming transfers according to the 247sports.com site. Former UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel will take over the offense.

Oklahoma should be not only one of the best teams in the Big 12 but also among the most talented of all NCAA football teams.

Texas Longhorns

• 2021 record: 5-7
• 2021 conference record: 3-6
• Head coach: Steve Sarkisian
• Odds to win conference title: +185

The transfer of quarterback Quinn Ewers might have dominated the headlines in the offseason, but the arrival of receiver Isaiah Neyor, who had 12 touchdown catches and averaged 19 yards per catch at Wyoming last season should not be ignored.

Whether Ewers or Hudson Card starts the season as the quarterback, there will be plenty of playmakers on this offense. Neyor joins receiver Xavier Worthy (981 receiving yards, 12 touchdowns in 2021) and running back Bijan Robinson (1127 yards and 11 TD runs) on a talented offense. If the offensive line is improved, watch out for the Longhorns.

Five of the top seven tacklers a season ago were seniors so that is a concern.

Coming off a losing season, the Big 12 Conference odds have the Longhorns as one of the teams to beat in 2022.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

• 2021 record: 12-2
• 2021 conference record: 8-1 (regular-season champions)
• Head coach: Mike Gundy
• Odds to win conference title: +450

Oklahoma State returns standout quarterback Spencer Sanders but the transfer portal was not kind to the Cowboys with safety Tanner McCallister and defensive lineman Jayden Jernigan leaving.

Oklahoma State lost its top two tacklers (Malcolm Rodriguez and Devin Harper) as well as cornerback Christian Holmes to the NFL so losing more of its key defensive players due to transfer isn’t going to help the Cowboys make a run at another Big 12 title game appearance.

Four of the top five receivers a season ago were either freshmen or sophomores and they will need to step up following the loss of 1000-yard receiver Tay Martin.

Baylor Bears

• 2021 record: 12-2
• 2021 conference record: 7-2
• Head coach: Dave Aranda
• Odds to win conference title: +700

Baylor had three players from its secondary taken in the NFL Draft with safeties Jalen Pitre and JT Woods being selected with picks No. 37 and 79. Cornerback Kalon was a seventh-round selection while linebacker Terrel Bernard was picked in the third round so there are holes to fill.

The defense will benefit from the arrival of Jaxon Player who had 15 tackles for loss and five sacks last season at Tulsa

On offense, starting quarterback Gerry Bohanon transferred to South Carolina. The Bears were already going to have to reload at running back and receiver so there are plenty of questions.

Nobody expected Baylor to win the Big 12 title in 2021. With the Big 12 Conference odds having the Bears in the middle of the pack, perhaps the Bears will surprise people once again.

Iowa State Cyclones

• 2021 record: 7-6
• 2021 conference record: 5-4
• Head coach: Matt Campbell
• Odds to win conference title: +1400

The offense will have a different look. Brock Purdy, the leading passer for the last four seasons, star running back Breece Hall and pass-catching tight end Charlie Kolar are off to the NFL.

Receiver Xavier Hutchinson is the top returning playmaker on offense. Defensive end Will McDonald is showing up as a potential first-round selection in 2023 mock drafts.

Six of the top eight tacklers in 2021 were seniors so there are some holes to fill on defense.

Texas Christian Horned Frogs

• 2021 record: 5-7
• 2021 conference record: 3-6
• Head coach: Sonny Dykes
• Odds to win conference title: +1400

Keeping up with the players coming and going has been no easy task. According to the 247sports.com transfer portal database, 10 players transferred in while seven heading elsewhere.
Leading rusher Zach Evans is now at Ole Miss but the Horned Frogs did bring in Emani Bailey from Louisiana and Trelon Smith from Arkansas. Receiver Quentin Johnson averaged 19.2 yards per catch in 2021 and he figures to get more passes thrown his way this season.

It will be interesting to see how different TCU looks now that defensive-minded longtime head coach Gary Patterson was let go and replaced by a quarterback-centric head coach Sonny Dykes.

West Virginia Mountaineers

• 2021 record: 6-7
• 2021 conference record: 4-5
• Head coach: Neal Brown
• Odds to win conference title: +2500

The well traveled JT Daniels is set to take over at quarterback for West Virginia. Leading receiver Winston Wright is now at Florida State while three other receivers transferred.

Former Clemson running back Lyn-J Dixon could join Daniels in the starting backfield. Dante Stills, who led the Mountaineers with seven sacks in 2021 and linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo (110 tackles, two interceptions) return to lead the defense.

Kansas State Wildcats

• 2021 record: 8-5
• 2021 conference record: 4-5
• Head coach: Chris Klieman
• Odds to win conference title: +4000

Deuce Vaughn is back after running for 1404 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior. At quarterback, Nebraska transfer Adrian Martinez to compete with Will Howard for starting job.
The defense should be aided by the arrival of Maryland transfer linebacker Branden Jennings, who had 18 tackles in the first four games last season. He will join 2021 leading tackler in what the Wildcats hope is an improved unit.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

• 2021 record: 7-6
• 2021 conference record: 3-6
• Head coach: Joey McGuire
• Odds to win conference title: +4000

Unlike many of its conference rivals, Texas Tech did a nice job keeping its players in town. They have added some pieces through the transfer portal while not seeing key contributors heading elsewhere.

Replacing leading receiver Erik Ezukanma and center Dawson Deaton, who were both selected in the NFL Draft, will not be easy. The return of quarterback Donovan Smith and running back Tahj Brooks back will help.

Kansas Jayhawks

• 2021 record: 2010
• 2021 conference record: 1-8
• Head coach: Lance Leipold
• Odds to win conference title: +25000

All signs are that second-year coach Lance Leipold has the Jayhawks headed in the right direction. He certainly knows his way around the transfer portal. He brought in Minnesota’s leading rusher Ky Thomas as well as defensive backs Kalon Gervin from Michigan State and Craig Young from Ohio State.

Thomas will team with Kansas’ top rusher Devin Neal and quarterback Jalon Daniels to lead the offense.