Kansas Now +130 to Win Big 12 With Season Week Away; Baylor Shortens to +500, Texas Fades to +1200

• Kansas’ odds increasing from +275 to +130
• Head Coach Bill Self’s Kansas squad will get an immediate test against the Duke Blue Devils to tip their season off next Tuesday
• Both Texas Tech and Baylor are getting the nod to be next in line to win the Big 12 at +500

After a Big 12 Conference Title odds shakeup, Kansas is now a heavy favorite to win the crown at +130. With the rise of the Jayhawks’ Big 12 title odds, where does that leave the rest of the pack?

Next up, the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Baylor Bears are both +500. For Texas Tech, they just so happen to be the defending regular-season Big 12 Champions from a year ago.

Prior to last season, Kansas held the Big 12 on its shoulders with 14 consecutive titles from 2005-2018. A stacked roster has them hungrier than ever to start another run. Kansas is loaded, folks.

I certainly don’t see why they shouldn’t be considered strong favorites to win the Big 12.

Odds to Win 2019-20 Big 12 Title

Odds taken Oct. 28th

Baylor and Texas Tech Present Kansas’ Biggest Competition

The 2018-19 season was good to the Red Raiders, reaching the Final Four and NCAA Championship game for the first time in program history. Texas Tech was oh-so-close to winning a title. Clutch play by the Virginia Cavaliers down the stretch into overtime led them to an 85-77 victory. In his third season at the helm, Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard will be pushing for another Final Four.

As for the Baylor Bears, they haven’t reached the Sweet 16 since 2017. They’ll be striving for their first Elite Eight appearance since 2012, and first Final Four dating back to 1950.

To challenge the Jayhawks in the Big 12, 6-foot-3 and 190 pound sophomore guard Jared Butler from Reserve, LA must rise to the occasion. Averaging 10.2 points per game, 3.1 rebounds per game and 2.7 assists per game in the 2018-19 campaign, these numbers must evolve in order to give Baylor a puncher’s chance at Kansas.

Butler dropped 31 points on the Jayhawks in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament on March 9, 2019. His magnificent effort was for not as Kansas prevailed, 78-70. However, this is what the young pup is capable of. If we see Jared’s numbers soar to the 20-plus PPG mark, say hello to the Bears. Consistency will be the key.

If @BaylorMBB is going to challenge Kansas and Texas Tech for the top of @Big12Conference then Jared Butler must have a terrific season. It's all plausible. @MarchMadness. pic.twitter.com/XDNifcWHik

— Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) October 25, 2019

Rock Chalk, Jayhawk

How good can Coach Self’s roster be? Well, Big 12 and National Championship good. Can Udoka Azubuike stay healthy for the entire season? I believe he will. Azubuike is Kansas’ man in the middle. The senior center from Nigeria stands 7-foot-0 and weighs in at 270 pounds.

Azubuike can and will be the anchor for the Jayhawks this year. Injury prone is his college career, he played in only 11 games as a freshman during the 2016-17 season, and just nine games for Kansas this past season. Although his stat-line read 13.4 PPG and 6.8 RPG in 2018-19, nine games isn’t going to cut it.

Kansas is hoping for their big-man from his sophomore season in 2017-18. With exactly 13.0 PPG and 7.0 RPG as well as 36 games played as a sophomore, this is what he can produce.

How about adding significantly to those totals this year? I don’t see why not. He’s a big reason (pun intended) why the Jayhawks will regain control of the conference as Big 12 champs.

He's BACK.

Udoka Azubuike to return to #KUbball for his senior season.
➡️ https://t.co/QIYM8BDorl pic.twitter.com/oJeUDDX5Qq

— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) April 22, 2019

Azubuike spent his offseason getting himself back to optimum overall health, chiseling his body into wonderful shape and making himself a more significant presence defensively.

Let’s not forget about the backcourt. Devon Dotson and Dajuan Harris will be Self’s go-to guards during the upcoming season. The two youngsters provide speed, superb ball-handling skills and shot-making ability to go with it. A scary combination for the Jayhawks, Dotson, Harris and Azubuike make one heck of a college hoops trio.

With depth down their roster, there’s no reason to think that Kansas won’t get back on track. I think they’re a great bet for the Big 12 title, and their +130 odds are right where they belong.

My Pick: Kansas (+130)