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, as BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF prepare for only their second Big 12 season. This year will also see the absence of the Longhorns and Sooners for the first time. The conference is undeniably wide open, with numerous teams believing they have what it takes to clinch 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
Believe it or not, the Colorado Buffalos find themselves absent from this list, and frankly, they’ve done nothing to warrant inclusion. Despite somehow garnering one vote to make the poll, they failed to live up to the considerable hype surrounding them last year. Now in their second season under Coach Prime, they face stiffer competition in a far tougher and deeper conference. Their schedule is no ally either. We’ll delve into that shortly.
Two other teams that nearly made the Top 25 but definitely completed the Top 30 were Iowa State and West Virginia. Upon examining the overall odds to win this 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 undoubtedly boasts the most potential champions, with no obvious favorite as seen in other places. Six teams have odds less than 10-1, including two teams that are not even ranked in the Top 25! Even though UCF is the 4th favorite to win the Big 12, they didn’t receive a single vote to be in the AP Rankings. Could the Knights upset naysayers this year?
The Rest of the Conference
- Baylor 66-1
- Cincinnati 75-1
- Arizona State 100-1
- Houston 100-1
- BYU 100-1
We can probably safely rule out these five teams from the title race, but you never know – stranger things have happened. This conference is hard to fully comprehend, and I am convinced that scheduling will significantly impact these teams’ performances. Let’s delve into the teams and see if we can identify a conference champion!
Big 12 Team Previews
Is it possible for Noah Fifita and the Wildcats to surprise some teams in the Big 12?
Although we won’t discuss all 16 teams in this conference, we will definitely delve into the top half of the league!
Arizona Wildcats
Newcomers to the conference may feel somewhat undervalued with their overall odds lower than their #21 ranking implies. However, this only highlights the depth of talent in this conference. Sophomore QB Noah Fifita spearheads the Wildcats as they enter the Big 12. Although they will face 3 of the weakest projected teams in the conference, their toughest 3 matches will all be away games.
The Wildcats’ third and fourth games of the season will take place at Kansas State and Utah, potentially resulting in two early losses for the team. Later in the season, they have a long journey to play at UCF, a team that, according to Vegas predictions, could contend for the Big 12 conference. Arizona’s success largely depends on Fifita’s leadership, but if they have difficulties on the road, their journey could be challenging.
Is it possible for Campbell and the Cyclones to prove their skeptics wrong this season?
Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones are yet another under-the-radar team, though their schedule is concerning. They face off against #25 Iowa on the road in the second week of the season, followed by matches against UCF, away games with #22 Kansas and #12 Utah, and a home game against #18 Kansas State to end the year. Although Coach Matt Campbell has a large number of returning starters, it remains to be seen if Sophomore QB Rocco Becht has what it takes to guide the Cyclones through this challenging conference.
Although the Cyclones are set to play against Houston, Baylor, and Cincinnati, who are among the predicted five weakest teams in the Big 12, I believe there are other more formidable teams with a higher chance of winning the conference title.
Can Jalon Daniels maintain his health this year?
Kansas Jayhawks
Jayhawk football is back in action, so hold onto your excitement. After a phenomenal season last year, quarterback Jalon Daniels is at the helm of a rejuvenated Jayhawk team that’s bringing a fresh energy to the football scene. The Jayhawks, who had a 9-4 Bowl winning season last year, are returning with plenty of their starters from both sides of the ball. However, the question remains: will Daniels be able to maintain his health throughout the entire season? In his time with Kansas, Daniels has not yet completed 10 games in a single season, and recovering from an injury can be a significant challenge. Nevertheless, he has abundant support from the offensive side, leading me to believe that the Jayhawks could potentially be the dark horse this year.
They also possess a notably lax schedule. Kansas bypasses Utah, Arizona, and Oklahoma State, with their two most challenging matches against Kansas State and Iowa State. At present, the Wildcats are the only ranked rival on the Jayhawk’s schedule, compelling us to take a chance at +850 odds. The Jayhawks also gain advantage from playing against 4 of the projected bottom 5 teams in the Big 12. If they make it to the Conference Championship and compete against the Utah Utes, we would have an excellent hedging opportunity.
Last year, as a freshman, Avery Johnson became the starter for the Wildcats.
Kansas State Wildcats
Avery Johnson, a proven force with his agility, will start as QB for the alternate Kansas team. The question remains whether he can throw enough to lead the Wildcats to another Big 12 Championship. The challenge lies in their tough schedule, being among the most difficult in the conference. Although Kansas State faces four of the Big 12’s bottom five teams, they also have to contend with three ranked rivals and Iowa State.
The Wildcats now have home games against #21 Arizona, #17 Oklahoma State, and #22 Kansas, with their most challenging away game in Ames at the end of the season. However, teams such as Kansas, Oklahoma State, and Utah have significantly simpler schedules, making their victories more critical for the Wildcats. Depending on the outcome of the rest of the league, it’s feasible to imagine a team with two losses making it to the Big 12 Championship, and the Wildcats could very well be contenders. If Avery Johnson can successfully guide this high-scoring offense, Kansas State might even unexpectedly make it to the CFP.
Can Gordon and the Cowboys dominate the rest of the Big 12?
Oklahoma State Cowboys
The team that might be the most underrated in the country boasts the best RB in the nation, Ollie Gordon II. The Cowboys also have a relatively easy schedule this year, with only two ranked opponents. In a rare occurrence, Oklahoma State will not face their in-state rival this College Football season, unless they meet in the CFP. Oklahoma State will host #12 Utah and will take on #18 Kansas State in back-to-back weeks, nonetheless.
Should the Cowboys secure victories in both upcoming games, their journey could be considerably smooth, especially as they will be hosting Arkansas, West Virginia, and Texas Tech, all of which are comparatively underwhelming opponents. I anticipate that Oklahoma State and Ollie Gordon will dominate these teams. If the Cowboys launch the season with a 5-0 record, triumphing over Arkansas, Utah, and KSU, they could easily secure a spot in the Big 12 Championship game. My projection is that they’ll conclude this season with a winning streak of seven games, considering the latter half of their schedule. With Texas and Oklahoma no longer hindrances, I predict the Cowboys will clinch the Big 12 title this season.
Can Rising guide the Utes to a Big 12 Championship in his comeback season?
Utah Utes
The newcomers, led by a quarterback returning from an injury, are the favorites to clinch the conference title. Cam Rising, aiming to return to his previous form this season, is at the helm of leading the Utes to a Big 12 Championship. While Rising spearheads a gifted offense, it’s Utah’s defense that truly catches my attention.
They definitely have a less challenging schedule, as there are only two ranked opponents listed at the moment. Utah faces off against #17 Oklahoma State on their turf and welcomes #21 Arizona at home in consecutive weeks in September, tackling their toughest games early on. The year concludes for Utah with a home game against Iowa State and an away game against UCF, which might prove to be slightly complicated as the season progresses, particularly considering the extensive travel involved in this conference.
Although I acknowledge the potential for Utah to win the Big 12, I believe there are a few other teams with simpler routes that will likely reach the top position instead.
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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, take a look at the pages below.
- NCAA Football 2024 Preview
- ACC 2024 Preview
- SEC 2024 Preview
- Big Ten Preview
- NCAA Football Expert Picks
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