We're less than a month away from the start of another college football season and to get you ready for all the action we have been busy breaking down the futures odds for all the major conferences in terms of some of the favorites' chances to win this year's title. This time around we will dig into the numbers for the best of the Big 12.

The following is a brief preview of a few of the top contenders to win the Big 12 this season based on odds provided by 5Dimes.eu. We have also listed the current odds for all the teams in the conference that did not make the list.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

• Odds to win the Big 12 Championship +270
• Odds to win a BCS Championship +4500

Looking at the odds for the top four teams in the Big 12 it is safe to say that it should remain a tight race all the way to November. The Oklahoma State Cowboys have been opened as the slight favorite to win the title despite coming off a 5-4 record in conference play and an 8-5 record overall. The Cowboys had no problem passing the ball as the seventh-ranked team in the nation and they definitely had the ability to light-up the scoreboard with an average of 45.7 points a game, which was third-most in the country.

They come into this season with a number of holes to fill on both sides of the ball with 15 starters expected back from last year's squad. Clint Chelf is expected to get the start on opening day at quarterback, but he will still be pushed by JW Walsh for playing time. If Oklahoma State is going to have any shot at coming out on top in the Big 12 it will have to find a way to tighten up a defense that gave-up an average of 28.2 points a game in 2012.

Texas Longhorns

• Odds to win the Big 12 Championship +285
• Odds to win a BCS Championship +3400

The Texas Longhorns have always been the pride and driving force behind the Big 12 but it has been a rough ride over the past few seasons since making it all the way to the BCS title game in 2009. Last season they were barely over .500 in conference play at 5-4 and they finished the season at 9-4 overall.

Experience could be the key factor that turns things around this season with 10 starters back on offense and nine expected back on defense. Look for both Johnathan Grey and Joe Bergeron to lead the rushing attack after combining for 1,268 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns in 2012. David Ash is expected to start the season at quarterback but Case McCoy is still patiently waiting in the wings to follow in his brother's footsteps. Texas is another team that needs to address some weaknesses on the defensive side of the ball after this unit allowed an average of 29.2 points a game last season.

TCU Horned Frogs

• Odds to win the Big 12 Championship +345
• Odds to win a BCS Championship +9500

The TCU Horned Frogs will be starting their second season in the Big 12 after going 4-5 in conference play last year. They started the 2012 campaign with five victories in their first six games but the wheels came off once in the thick of the conference schedule with just two additional wins in their next seven games. The end result was a disappointing overall record of 7-6.

The Horned Frogs return a decent amount of talent from last year's roster especially on defense with 10 starters expected back. This could be enough to carry TCU to a conference title considering it allowed an average of 22.6 points a game in 2012 and should be even better this season. The offense will be led quarterback Trevone Boykin, who will be looking to improve upon his 57.2 completion percentage as a freshman. He will also have to improve the ratio of 15 touchdowns to 10 interceptions which proved to be costly at times last year.

Oklahoma Sooners

• Odds to win the Big 12 Championship +375
• Odds to win a BCS Championship +7000

The Oklahoma Sooners have been perennial favorites to win the Big 12 during the Bob Stoops era as coach, but this season could be his biggest challenge in recent memory. The Sooners failed to win last year's crown despite an 8-1 record in conference play due to an early season loss to Kansas State which proved to be the tie-breaker. They finished the season at 10-3 overall.

The main reason that Oklahoma is the fourth-favorite to win the conference is the loss of 12 starters from last year's team. Blake Bell has been tagged to replace Landry Jones at quarterback and Jalen Saunders will need to step things up at wide receiver with Kenny Stills gone as well. One key starter that will be back is All-Conference fullback Trey Millard. He has the ability to add a tremendous amount of versatility to the Sooners' offense.

The odds to win the Big 12 title for the rest of the teams in the conference have Baylor listed at +1400, Kansas State at +1750, Texas Tech at +2000, West Virginia at +2500, Iowa State at +3500 and Kansas at +7500,