Big 12 Conference Preview 2024: NCAA Football Predictions, Team Insights & Betting Odds
The Big 12 also inherited some misplaced Pac-12 teams and now features 16 total teams in the conference. Although powerhouses like Oregon, USC and Washington entered the Big Ten, the Big 12 added some very solid football teams as well. With plenty of new faces, these teams do not play everyone in their conference anymore, and thus teams could meet for the first time the conference championship game. Let’s take a look at who was added and who broke into the Top 25.
Big 12 Additions
- Arizona State
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Utah
The Big 12 has undergone recent changes with BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF preparing for only their second Big 12 season. This year also marks the first without the presence of the Longhorns or Sooners. With these shifts, the conference title is very much in contention, with numerous teams feeling capable of claiming the Big 12 Title.
Big 12 Ranked Teams
- #12 Utah Utes
- #17 Oklahoma State Cowboys
- #18 Kansas State Wildcats
- #21 Arizona Wildcats
- #22 Kansas Jayhawks
Surprisingly, the Colorado Buffalos are absent from this list, and rightfully so. They managed to secure one vote for the poll, but their performance last year fell short of expectations despite the hype. Now in their second season with Coach Prime, they face a more challenging and deeper conference than before. Their schedule offers no relief either. We will delve into this shortly.
Two other teams that narrowly missed the Top 25, but definitely made it to the Top 30, were Iowa State and West Virginia. Looking at the overall odds to win the conference, it’s clear that Vegas also favors the Cyclones.
Odds to Win Big 12 Championship
Is it possible for Cam Rising to fully recover against these challenging Big 12 opponents?
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- Utah +325
- Kansas State +400
- Oklahoma State +600
- UCF +650
- Kansas +850
- Iowa State +900
- Arizona +1200
- Texas Tech +1800
- TCU +1800
- West Virginia +1800
- Colorado +2000
This conference clearly holds the most potential for champions, as it lacks a definitive favorite like other conferences. Six teams boast odds shorter than 10-1, including two teams not even ranked in the Top 25! Despite being the fourth favorite to win the Big 12, UCF didn’t receive a single vote for the AP Rankings. Could the Knights surprise their critics this year?
The Rest of the Conference
- Baylor 66-1
- Cincinnati 75-1
- Arizona State 100-1
- Houston 100-1
- BYU 100-1
It appears that these 5 teams can be safely discounted from the championship race already, but unpredictability still lies ahead. Stranger things have occurred. This conference is indeed challenging to comprehend in its entirety, as I am convinced that scheduling will significantly influence these teams’ performances. Let’s delve into the teams and attempt to identify a conference champion!
Big 12 Team Previews
Could Noah Fifita and the Wildcats potentially surprise some Big 12 teams?
Although I won’t discuss all 16 teams in this conference, we will definitely delve into the top half of the league!
Arizona Wildcats
The newcomers to the conference are somewhat lower in the overall odds board than their #21 ranking might imply, demonstrating the depth and competitiveness of the conference. The Wildcats, led by sophomore QB Noah Fifita, are gearing up for the Big 12. Despite having games against three of the projected bottom five teams in the conference, their three toughest challenges will all be away games.
The Wildcats will face Kansas State and Utah for their third and fourth games of the season, both of which are away games. This could potentially result in two early losses for the team. Later in the season, they have a long trip to play against UCF, a team that is predicted by Vegas to potentially compete for the Big 12 conference. The Wildcats’ success will largely depend on Fifita’s leadership. However, if they have difficulty performing well in away games, it could be a challenging journey.
Can Campbell and the Cyclones prove the skeptics wrong this season?
Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones are another under-the-radar team, though their schedule is cause for concern. In addition to facing #25 Iowa away in the second week of the season, they also have games against UCF, on the road against #22 Kansas, and they finish the season away at #12 Utah and at home against #18 Kansas State. Matt Campbell has a strong roster of returning starters, but questions remain whether sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht is capable of leading the Cyclones through such a challenging conference.
Despite the Cyclones playing against Houston, Baylor, and Cincinnati, three of the projected bottom five teams in the Big 12, I believe there are other more formidable teams with a higher chance of securing the conference title.
Can Jalon Daniels maintain his health this year?
Kansas Jayhawks
The wait is over, Jayhawk football returns. Following an impressive previous season, QB Jalon Daniels spearheads a re-energized Jayhawk team. With a significant number of starters from their 9-4 Bowl victorious team last year returning for Kansas, the main concern is whether Daniels can maintain his health throughout the entire season. In his career with Kansas, Daniels has yet to complete 10 games in a season, and bouncing back from an injury is always challenging. Fortunately, he has ample support from the offensive team, which could potentially make the Jayhawks this season’s dark horse.
They also have a notably soft schedule. Kansas does not have to face Utah, Arizona, and Oklahoma State, with their two most challenging games being at Kansas State and versus Iowa State. The Wildcats are currently the only opponent on the Jayhawks’ schedule that is ranked, making it hard to resist the +850 odds. The Jayhawks also enjoy the advantage of playing against 4 of the 5 lowest projected teams in the Big 12. Should they make it to the Conference Championship and face the Utah Utes, we would have a fantastic hedging opportunity.
Last year, as a freshman, Avery Johnson became the Wildcats’ starter.
Kansas State Wildcats
Avery Johnson is set to start as QB for the alternative Kansas team, having demonstrated his prowess in running the ball. The question remains, can he throw the ball well enough to lead the Wildcats to another Big 12 Championship? Their path to victory is fraught with challenges as they face one of the most difficult schedules in the conference. Although Kansas State will be playing against 4 of the bottom 5 teams in the Big 12, they also have to contend with 3 ranked opponents as well as Iowa State.
The Wildcats are set to host #21 Arizona, #17 Oklahoma State, and #22 Kansas, with their most challenging away game taking place in Ames at the end of the year. However, teams like Kansas, Oklahoma State and Utah face less daunting schedules, making it even more vital for the Wildcats to secure wins against them. Given how the league might evolve, it’s not outlandish to consider a two-loss team making it to the Big 12 Championship, with the Cats potentially being contenders. If Avery Johnson can successfully guide this high-powered offense, Kansas State might even find a backdoor into the CFP.
Can Gordon and the Cowboys dominate the rest of the Big 12?
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Ollie Gordon II, arguably the best RB in the country, features in possibly the country’s most underrated team. The Cowboys’ schedule, which includes only two ranked opponents this year, is also noteworthy. For the first time in a long while, Oklahoma State will not face their in-state rival this college football season, unless they meet in the CFP. Nevertheless, they will host #12 Utah and play against #18 Kansas State in back-to-back weeks.
Should the Cowboys secure victories in both of these games, they are likely to have an easy route ahead, hosting Arkansas, West Virginia, and Texas Tech who are all far from formidable opponents. I envision Oklahoma State and Ollie Gordon dominating these teams. Should the Cowboys kick off the year with a 5-0 record, triumphing over Arkansas, Utah, and KSU, they could be a strong contender for the Big 12 Championship game. I predict they will conclude this season with 7 consecutive victories, based on the latter half of their schedule. With Texas and Oklahoma no longer obstacles, the Cowboys are my choice for the Big 12 champions this season.
Can Rising guide the Utes to a Big 12 Championship in his comeback season?
Utah Utes
The team favored to win the conference features newcomers headed by a quarterback returning from injury. Cam Rising is focused on regaining his previous form this season and guiding the Utes to a Big 12 Championship. Although Rising spearheads a formidable offense, it’s Utah’s defense that truly stands out.
They definitely have a less challenging schedule as well, with only two ranked rivals presently listed. Utah has games against #17 Oklahoma State on their ground and #21 Arizona in their home ground in consecutive weeks in September, tackling their toughest competitors early on. Utah concludes the year hosting Iowa State and playing an away game against UCF, which might become a bit complicated as the season progresses, particularly with the extensive traveling that this conference involves.
Although Utah has a chance of winning the Big 12, I believe there are a few other teams with less challenging routes that will likely reach the top.
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Final Big 12 Predictions
- #1 Oklahoma State
- #2 Kansas
- #3 Kansas State
- #4 Utah
- #5 Iowa State
- #6 Arizona
- #7 UCF
- #8 Texas Tech
- #9 West Virginia
- #10 TCU
- #11 Baylor
- #12 Colorado
- #13 Cincinnati
- #14 Arizona State
- #15 Houston
- #16 BYU
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For additional NCAA Football content, explore the following pages.
- NCAA Football 2024 Preview
- ACC 2024 Preview
- SEC 2024 Preview
- Big Ten Preview
- NCAA Football Expert Picks
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