2021 Big 12 Football Odds Preview

The Big 12 has belonged to the Oklahoma Sooners for the last six seasons. Will that trend continue this season, or will another team finally knock the Sooners off their pedestal?

At the Bovada Sportsbook not surprisingly the Sooners are sitting as -180 favorites on the Big 12 championship futures. Last year the Sooners defeated the Iowa State Cyclones in the Big 12 Championship Game to claim their sixth straight conference title.

Returning from last year’s championship squad is starting quarterback Spencer Rattler, who will be looking to take the next step in his sophomore season. Rattler should be able to rely on what might be the deepest receiving corps in the conference led by Marvin Mims, Theo Wease, and Jadon Haselwood. They also appear to have a strong tandem out of the backfield led by Eric Gray and Kennedy Brooks.

The Sooners defense has the depth and the experience to be the best in the conference this season. If that happens, and the offense continues to show growth under Rattler, a seventh conference title could be in the Sooners' reach.

Iowa State follows Oklahoma on betting futures

Following the Sooners on the Big 12 odds are Iowa State at +275. Last season the Cyclones upset the Sooners at home during the regular season, but they couldn’t do it again later in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Cyclones QB Brock Purdy returns for his senior year and he’ll have several experienced targets to throw to including wideout Chase Allen and tight end Charlie Kolar. Throw in running back Breece Hall and Iowa State should once again boast a balanced offense.

The Iowa State defense was ranked second in the conference last season and they should be able to match or even possibly surpass that this season with several key starters returning. To win their first conference championship in over 100 years the Cyclones will most likely have to go through Oklahoma. They’ll get their first shot at the Sooners on November 20 when they visit Oklahoma.

Can Texas pay out on the Big 12 betting odds?

The only other team in the Big 12 the oddsmakers at the Bovada Sportsbook are giving a chance at winning the conference this season are the Texas Longhorns, who check in on the futures at +750.

Things will be different at the top in Texas this season as former Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian replaces Tom Herman as head coach. Also gone is starting quarterback Sam Ehlinger. Taking over for him at QB will be Casey Thompson. He looked good in relief of Ehlinger in last year’s Alamo Bowl, but some growing pains are expected.

Aside from a new head coach and a new starting QB the biggest challenge facing the Longhorns this season could be their schedule. Texas will face Iowa State on the road and Oklahoma at a neutral site in Dallas. They’ll also get the TCU Horned Frogs on the road, in a scenario where they’ve lost three straight.