Odds To Win 2011 Big 12 Championship

Future Betting Odds

The Big 12 conference will forge ahead this season with just 10 schools after the departure of Nebraska to the Big Ten and Colorado to the expanded PAC-12.This downsizing also eliminates the two-division setup of North and South and the traditional conference title game. The loss of the Cornhuskers does take a bit of the luster away from the Big 12, but do not tell that to the teams that are left, as they are out to prove that this conference plans on remaining a major player in the BCS rankings.

Heading into the 2011 season, Oklahoma is now the class of the conference. The Sooners have been opened by Bodog as prohibitive 4/9 favorites to win the Big 12 this year. The Sooners also have the distinction of being the favorites to win the national title at 9/2. Bob Stoop’s 12-2 team from a year ago returns nine starters on offense including QB Landry Jones and WR Ryan Broyles. These two accounted for 118 receptions for 1,452 yards and 13 touchdowns in the 2010 regular season. All-Conference LB Travis Lewis will anchor a group of seven starters returning from a defense that gave up an average of less than 22 points a game.

The Sooners path to this year’s BCS Championship Game in New Orleans has been made substantially easier without the Cornhuskers standing in the way. They will still face a couple of stiff tests starting with a Week 3 trip to Florida State. The final two hurdles on the schedule are a Nov.5 home game against Texas A&M and a season finale on the road against Oklahoma State on Dec. 3.

Speaking of Texas A&M, the Aggies are the second favorites to win the Big 12 at 5/1. They are also a moderate longshot to win the BCS at 40/1. Head Coach Mike Sherman returns 10 starters from an offense that was ranked 20th in the nation in passing. Back is WR Jeff Fuller, who led the team with 72 receptions for 1,066 yards and 12 TD’s. The Aggies will also have a solid rushing attack with the return of Cyrus Grey, who ran for 1,133 yards and 12 TD’s last season. QB Ryan Tannehill has been named the starter for 2011. Last year, he passed for 1,638 yards and had a 65 percent completion rate as a backup to Jerrod Johnson,

Texas A&M’s entire defensive secondary remains intact with CB Coryell Judie as the primary playmaker in the group. If Garrick Williams and Sean Porter can step up to fill the void created by the departure of Von Miller and Michael Hodges, this unit will be one of the best in the conference. The Aggies shot at winning this year’s Big 12 title could come down to that trip to Norman in early November to face the Sooners.

The third favorite to win the conference at 13/2 is Texas, which actually has better odds than the Aggies to win a national championship at 25/1. The Longhorns come into the 2011 season with some questions at quarterback. Last year’s starter, Garrett Gilbert is listed as the incumbent for this season, but do not be surprised if Case McCoy, Colt’s younger brother, gets the starting nod come opening day against Rice. Garrett’s performance in 2010 (10 TD’s and 17 interceptions) has hardly stirred up a vote of confidence for his ability to lead this offense.

Regardless of who ends up behind center, the Longhorns will rely on a running game that features a number of quality backs led by Fozzy Whittaker and Cody Johnson. LB’s Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho will anchor a defense that returns seven starters from last year. Texas gets its shot at knocking-off Oklahoma on Oct.8 and will face the Aggies on the road in its final regular season game on Nov.26.

Oklahoma State would have to be considered the dark horse in the chase for the Big 12 title at 9/1, but will most likely have to play the role of spoiler against the three teams listed above. Bodog has Missouri listed next at 14/1, followed by Baylor at 18/1 and Texas Tech at 20/1.

Note: The Big 12 future lines listed above were current odds at the time the article was written. Please click here!! to get the up to the minute odds to win the 2011 Big 12 title.