Like the ACC and Big Ten, the Big 12 has seen one powerhouse dominate the proceedings for a number of years. That team residing in the Big 12 is none other than Lincoln Riley’s Oklahoma Sooners who enter the 2021-22 college football betting season gunning for a seventh straight conference title. Online sportsbooks currently have Spencer Rattler and company installed favorites to pull off the feat with the Iowa State Cyclones – the team that finished right behind them in the standings last year – in their rearview mirror. From there, it’s an absolute crapshoot. Texas is going under an identity transformation after Tom Hermann was kicked to the curb in favor of Steve Sarkisian. Oklahoma State was the only other six-plus win team a season ago and returns integral parts from that team, but also suffers some integral losses. TCU and West Virginia could be wild cards. Don’t waste your time looking at anyone else to win this conference. Kansas owns a season win total of 1! While some programs are on the up-and-up, this looks to be a two-horse race; both on paper and in reality. OU and ISU are leaps and bounds better than everybody else, and I fully expect both programs to reach the Big 12 title game for the second straight season.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Oklahoma -180
Iowa State +275
Texas +800
Oklahoma State +1100
TCU +1500
West Virginia +2500
Kansas State +4000
Baylor +5000
Texas Tech +6000
Kansas +30000
Favorite to Bet: Oklahoma Sooners -180
This team is absolutely loaded! From its powerhouse “Air Raid” attack that averaged nearly 42 points per game to its defense that finished No. 34 in points allowed, Boomer Sooner is the full package. After seeing its three-year streak of qualifying for the College Football Playoffs come to an end last season, OU looks primed and ready to take to the gridiron determined to make amends right from Week 1 when toe meets leather against Tulane. Pray for the Green Wave who currently clock in as 26-point home underdogs!
There’s talent littered up and down the roster. Even more of it was brought in this past offseason with Riley’s recruiting classes always ranking out amongst the best in the country. Because of it, the Sooners no longer offer up a plus-money return to win this conference after initially hitting the board in the +125 to +135 range. The betting markets have bought in turning them into near one to two favorites. It also only sits behind the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Georgia on the futures odds to win the whole enchilada. OU’s national championship odds currently clock in at +750 which still offer up value in my opinion.
It ultimately will all boil down to Rattler taking the next step forward. He played to a 170.9 QB rating by way of throwing for 2,784 yards and a 25:7 TD/INT ratio a season ago. However, there were numerous times that the young and inexperienced quarterback looked out of sorts. Because of it, Oklahoma inexplicably sat on leads as opposed to going for the jugular. Case in point was last year’s Big 12 title game matchup with the Clones. Oklahoma got out to a commanding 24-7 halftime lead, but only managed three points the rest of the way once the Clones defense made adjustments. Rattler failed to react. Guess what, it’s time for him to make his own adjustments when the time calls for it and take the Sooners to the next level. This program hasn’t had many issues qualifying for the CFP. Winning it has been an entirely different story. It’s high time these kids delivered – do it for Norman!
Underdog to Bet: Iowa State Cyclones +600
Iowa State won eight of its 10 played regular season games in 2020. Though it failed to log its first ever B12 title after falling 27-21 as 5-point dogs to the Sooners in the rematch, it still closed the season out on a high by lambasting the Oregon Ducks 34-17 as 4.5-point favs in the Fiesta Bowl. The team ultimately proved to be a moneymaker for CFB bettors by logging a 7-5 tally against the closing betting odds. With Brock Purdy and Breece Hall each back as leaders of the offense not to mention being Heisman Trophy contenders, the Clones will certainly have a say in how the Big 12 title race ultimately plays out.
While it’s great Matt Campbell has a plethora of returning talent back on both sides of the ball, it’s going to be interesting to see how this team reacts to being one of the “hunted” instead of being the “hunter” for so long. ISU was a trendy pick to make some noise last season, but the city of Ames now has expectations with this year’s squad likely one of if not the best the program has ever marched onto the gridiron in its history.
That early battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy will go a long way in determining whether the Cyclones have any staying power to make a run at the national championship. For Big 12 title purposes, ISU has got a very manageable schedule with its toughest test arriving on October 23 when it seeks revenge against Oklahoma State. It remains tough after that with games slated to go at West Virginia, Texas, at Texas Tech, at Oklahoma and then back home against TCU. While I don’t want to say this is a make or break season for the Clones, it’s a make or break season for the Clones. Campbell certainly has this program headed in the right direction, but everything he’s done to this point all boils down to what this crop of recruits does with its opportunity. Should they actually qualify for the Big 12 title game a second season, you can bet your bottom dollar they won’t be paying out at a 6-1 rate – buy now!
Longshot to Bet: TCU Horned Frogs +1500
For my flier, I’m gonna take a shot with Gary Patterson’s Horny Toads. I love the talent on this roster! QB Max Duggan is a stud that can get the job done both with his arm and legs. The kids got freakish speed which saw him average 4.5 yards per carry and score 10 rushing touchdowns. Then there’s stud WR Quentin Johnston that will be suiting up on Sunday’s moving forward for an extended amount of time. Don’t forget about the shapeshifter in the backfield who otherwise goes by the name of Zach Evans who averaged nearly 8.0 yards per rip in 2020. TCU’s defense can always be counted on to drive opposing offenses crazy, and I expect nothing less this season.
While everyone has already crowned Oklahoma and Iowa State as the Alpha 1 & 2 of this conference, TCU has gone overlooked and could squeeze through the cracks with a favorable schedule regardless of opposing both OU and ISU on the road. At 15-1, the Horned Frogs are certainly worth a beer money investment!
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