Big 12 Conference Title Odds Set Oklahoma as -125 Favorite; Texas (+300) Is the Only Other Team Better than +1100

• Oklahoma the favorite to win their fifth straight Conference Title
• Texas (+300) is only other team with shorter odds than +1000
• Big 12 is wide open after Sooners and Longhorns

SBD’s ongoing 2019 college football conference previews continue today with the Big 12. (See end of page for all articles.) The Big 12 sets up as a year-long Red River Rivalry, according to the odds, with Oklahoma and Texas heavily favored.  The averages in our 2019 College Football Conference Title Odds Tracker show that the Sooners are -130 to win the conference in 2019, while the Longhorns are at +280, and no other team is shorter than +1100.

2019 Big 12 Conference Title Odds

*Odds taken 07/13/15

Oklahoma the Favorites Once Again

Oklahoma has the best team on paper heading into the season and will be searching for their third straight appearance in the College Football Playoff.  They have produced the last two Heisman Trophy winners in Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield and have a new defensive coordinator in Alex Grinch.

Jalen Hurts is the new quarterback and expected to follow in the footsteps of Murray and Mayfield.  The Alabama transfer joins a stacked Sooners team that has wide receiver CeeDee Lamb returning following a 1,000-yard season and top running backs Kennedy Brooks and Trey Sermon.

Five Sooners make SI's "Top 100 College Football Players of 2019" list.

#⃣7⃣9⃣ — Grant Calcaterra
#⃣5⃣3⃣ — Trey Sermon
#⃣4⃣9⃣ — Kenneth Murray
#⃣3⃣3⃣ — CeeDee Lamb
#⃣2⃣8⃣ — Jalen Hurts

🔗➡️ https://t.co/GDXsPPhcWp#OUDNA | #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/lS44fIMkrV

— 𝕆𝕂𝕃𝔸ℍ𝕆𝕄𝔸-𝕍𝕊-𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕎𝕆ℝ𝕃𝔻 (@soonergridiron) July 12, 2019

Hurts should be a solid replacement for Murray, arriving in Oklahoma as a national champion, the 2016 SEC Offensive Player of the Year and with a career starting record of 26-2. His arrival and the coaching of Lincoln Riley help make the Sooners the team to beat.

Texas is the  Second-Choice

The Longhorns are the only team near Oklahoma in the odds. Texas went 10-4 last year, but have to face a tough non-conference opponent in LSU this year.

Quarterback Sam Ehlinger can carry a team and was voted as the preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Last year’s second-leading rusher Keaontay Ingram is also returning.

There are question marks, though, as Texas needs to replace eight starters on defense from last year and hope someone can step up to replace the production of wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Betting on Texas means betting on the Longhorns reworked offensive and defensive lines coming to fruition.

Primetime wins over LSU in September and Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, in addition to a healthy Ehlinger, could lead the Longhorns to the title, but there are too many uncertainties to put them on the same level as the Sooners.

Is There Value in a Big 12 Longshot?

The Big 12 is wide open after Oklahoma at -125 and Texas at +300. There are a few teams that could provide some sneaky value as a longshot.

The Baylor Bears (+1800) improved by six wins last year after managing just one win in their first year under Matt Rhule in 2017. They’re bringing back several starters from last year, including quarterback Charlie Brewer, and have a well-balanced and experienced lineup.

They have a favorable early schedule that could see them easily go 3-0 against Stephen F. Austin, UTSA and Rice in the opening three weeks, gain momentum and surprise some people this season.

Iowa State (+1200) also has some good value. The Cyclones’ entire starting offensive line (114 career starts and four seniors) is returning, while quarterback Brock Purdy is the conference’s returning leader in passing efficiency (169.91).

[Iowa State’s] entire starting offensive line (114 career starts and four seniors) is returning, while quarterback Brock Purdy is the conference’s returning leader in passing efficiency (169.91).

They also have a really strong defensive line with Quan Bailey, defensive lineman Ray Lima, safety Greg Eisworth and linebacker Marcel Spears Jr. all being named to the Big-12 preseason team. Coach Matt Campbell is one to watch heading into his fourth year after an appearance in the Alamo Bowl against Washington State.

Iowa State has been picked No. 3 in the Big 12's preseason poll, the highest ranking since the league went to 10 teams. The Cyclones have been picked third or better only twice since 1996 and that was with divisions.

— Alex Halsted (@AlexHalsted) July 10, 2019

Baylor and Iowa don’t have the all-around talent that Oklahoma and Texas have, but they have enough bright spots to be in the mix for the Big 12 Conference Title.

Verdict

Until proven otherwise, the Sooners are the team to beat.

Oklahoma has the best coach, and Hurts is primed for a massive senior year.  Add in the return of CeeDee Lamb and a new defensive coordinator in Alex Grinch, and you can see why Oklahoma is the safe bet to win the Big 12.

Pick: Oklahoma (-125)