Big 12 Tournament Odds & Picks

By Mike Rose

The Texas Longhorns are the reigning Big 12 tournament champions after ousting Oklahoma State in the championship game.

 The then Shaka Smart led Longhorns parlayed a forfeit by Kansas in the semis to be afforded the program’s only tourney championship. With it bolting for the SEC in short order, this might be the reigning champs’ last opportunity to hoist the hardware in the Big 12. Linemakers at FanDuel Sportsbook don’t look to be the least bit bullish of that occurring with Baylor, Kansas and Texas Tech all having shorter odds to cut down the nets. Regardless, this tourney is jam-packed with college basketball goodness evidenced by eight of the nine participants all being ranked within the top-50 of the most up to date Pomeroy Ratings; Only K-State sits outside (No. 60). Though many of the belief a third go-round between KU and Baylor is a given, I’m thinking this tournament is wide open regardless of it taking place in the Jayhawks’ backyard. As such, here are favorite, underdog, and longshot selections that I believe have as good a shot as winning the whole darn thing as anyone else.

Big 12 Tournament Odds at FanDuel Sportsbook

Baylor +230

Kansas +260

Texas Tech +380

Texas +650

TCU +1600

Oklahoma +1600

Iowa State +1900

K-State +3200

West Virginia +3500

Favorite to Bet: Kansas Jayhawks +260

While it’s Baylor that closed the season out on a high in rattling off five straight wins which included an 80-70 decision over Kansas in Waco, it’s the Jayhawks that I’ll side with in the favorite bracket; and no it’s not because I bleed crimson and blue! The Jayhawks are the current No. 9 ranked team at KenPom.com by way of winning 25 of their 31 overall played games and going 14-4 SU in conference play. It shared the regular season title with the Bears but earned the No. 1 seed in KC by way of hammering Baylor 83-59 in the showdown at the Phog. Armed with potential Wooden Award winner Ochai Agbaji, Kansas is going to be extremely tough for any team to send home over the next month. With Jalen Wilson fully reverted back into his 2020-21 form and both David McCormack and Christian Braun rounding out the fearsome-four, KU is the team to beat in my book. They’ll get the winner of the 8/9 matchup in the quarters and dominated both K-State and West Virginia in the regular season. The semifinal matchup will be tough against either Texas or Iowa State as will the finals likely against Texas Tech or Baylor. This is a program that’s supposed to handle opponents like that, so roll with ‘em – Rock Chalk!

Underdog to Bet: Texas Tech Red Raiders +380

Unstoppable at home (18-0) and nothing short of yawnstipating on the road in managing just three wins through 10 tries (5-5 ATS), the Red Raiders are still my underdog selection to turn the Big 12 tournament on its head come Saturday night. Though it turns the ball over a ton (No. 292) and isn’t very effective from long range (No. 282), there isn’t a team in the entire country that plays better defense (No. 1). No longer the snail it once was under Beard’s watch, Texas Tech actually gets after it a bit better tempo-wise and has thrived with highly effective shooting close to the rack evidenced by ranking out No. 21 overall in 2-point offense. Terrence Shannon Jr. is a silent assassin regardless of only averaging a shade over 10.0 points per game. The Red Raiders ability to shut opposing offenses down with their frustrating brand of defense is what has me very excited about cashing in this near 4-1 ticket. That quarterfinal matchup against the Cyclones won’t be a walk in the park, and neither will the tilt against Baylor in the semis. But this is the rough and tumble Big 12 and Texas Tech has the intestinal fortitude to win the program’s first ever tourney title – in Mark Adams I trust!

Longshot to Bet: TCU Horned Frogs +1600

I wouldn’t fault you for taking a shot with Iowa State instead. The Cyclones have battled back from the mid-season lull after getting out to a tremendous start to their 2021-22 campaign. T.J. Otzelberger has a nice mix of veteran talent in Izaiah Brockington and Gabe Kalscheur to pair with Big 12 Frosh of the Year Tyrese Hunter. Even so, I’m going to look the way of Jamie Dixon instead due to the way it closed the regular season out. The finale loss in Morgantown is a bit more respectable when you take into account them squaring off against Kansas in back-to-back games right before. TCU went on to win 19 total games by way of getting after it defensively. It allows fewer than 65 points per game (No. 50) and plays lock down “D” along the perimeter (No. 55). For it to have any shot of making an unforeseen run to the title, the Horny Toads are going to need to rise up at the other end of the floor. It won’t be easy as Texas had their way with them in the regular season. If you feel like getting in on this dart throw, there’s better returns on investment offered at other sportsbooks than FanDuel so do your due diligence and get the best price!