2012 College Basketball Predictions: Big 12 Odds, Predictions, Favorites and Sleepers

2012 College Basketball Picks: Big 12 Championship Odds, Predictions, Favorites and Sleepers: Last season, the Big 12 enjoyed a strong season. Three teams won at least 30 games, and the Kansas Jayhawks advanced all the way to the championship game. For the record, no other conference had three teams win at least 30 games last season. Despite the success as a whole last year, an offseason of conference realignment has changed the look of the Big 12 for the 2012-13 college basketball season. Texas A&M and Missouri bolted from the conference for the SEC, and TCU and West Virginia will take their place. The loss of Missouri in particular will be a blow to the conference’s strength in the short term, but in the long-run, it remains to be seen what the new additions will mean for the Big 12. In the meantime, here is a look at the top contenders in the conference for the upcoming college hoops season.

Big 12 Conference Odds, Predictions, Favorites and Sleepers

The Favorites

They will have to replace their two top players from a team that came within a game of winning a national title, but the Kansas Jayhawks have won eight straight conference titles for a reason. Three starters are back, including defensive-minded center Jeff Withey and athletic slasher Elijah Johnson. Meanwhile, coach Bill Self has brought in plenty of talented freshmen once again, including highly-touted forward Perry Ellis. The Jayhawks may take some time to gel, but Self’s track record for getting his team in sync in time for conference play speaks for itself.

Although the Baylor Bears lost three players to the NBA, including star forward Perry Jones III, this year’s team has plenty of talent left. Senior point guard Pierre Jackson can score or distribute the ball, and he will provide experience and leadership for the Bears. Meanwhile, sharpshooter Brad Heslip is one of several returning players ready to step into a bigger role. Throw in a strong recruiting class led by 7’1” center Isaiah Austin and power forward Ricardo Gathers, and the Bears should be just fine once their reloaded frontcourt gets its feet wet.

The Dark Horses

Armed with a solid backcourt and an excellent recruiting class, the Texas Longhorns are amassing the talent to make a run at the conference frontrunners. Guards Myck Kabongo and Sheldon McClellan can be inconsistent, but they should provide plenty of perimeter firepower. More importantly, highly-touted freshmen Cameron Ridley, Prince Ibeh and Connor Lammert should all contribute immediately. With his 6’10” frame and defensive presence, a quick start from Ridley in particular will go a long way to boosting Texas’ chances.

New coach Bruce Weber inherits a very experienced Kansas State Wildcats bunch, and his defensive-minded system could be just what this turnover-prone team needs to reach its potential. In total, 12 players are back, including four starters. Swingman Rodney McGruder is Kansas State’s best offensive player and one of the better scorers in the Big 12, but guard Angel Rodriguez can be an X-factor when he is hitting from the perimeter. The Wildcats definitely have the talent and experience to compete in the conference, but it remains to be seen if they can handle late game situations in big games and come out on the winning end.

The Sleeper

Talent isn’t everything when it comes to winning games, but it does help, and the Oklahoma State Cowboys have been amassing some serious talent the past two years. Five-star recruit Le’Bryan Nash is back after leading the Cowboys in scoring as a freshman. He will be joined by highly-touted freshman point guard Marcus Smart and freshman sharpshooter Phil Forte. Smart’s play in particular will be huge for an Oklahoma State team that lacked leadership and a floor general last year. If Smart is able to deliver the same type of all-around dominance that he displayed in high school, all the young talent on this roster could come together and explode.

Odds to win the Big 12 Conference
7261 Baylor +800
7262 Iowa State +1500
7263 Kansas +175
7264 Kansas State +500
7265 Oklahoma +800
7266 Oklahoma State +1000
7267 Texas +175
7268 TCU +5000
7269 Texas Tech +3000
7270 West Virginia +800

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