The road to March starts now! As the calendar flips to November, College Basketball is ready to tip off. Our journey through previewing every College Basketball team and conference for the 2026-27 season brings us to the Big 12. Let’s dive into this Big 12 preview, look at the odds, and make our best bets.
Last season was another successful one for the Big 12, led by the Arizona Wildcats. Arizona went 16-2 in conference and had a monster 36-3 overall record. Tommy Lloyd’s crew won the Big 12 regular season title, the conference tournament, and made it all the way to the Final Four in March Madness. Eight Big 12 teams went to the big dance in March. Arizona, of course, made the Final Four, but Iowa State and Houston joined them in the Sweet 16.
Odds to Win Big 12 Conference Regular Season
Arizona +275
Houston +300
Kansas +475
Texas Tech +700
Iowa State +700
Baylor +1800
Cincinnati +2200
BYU +2500
TCU +3000
West Virginia +4000
Arizona State +5000
Oklahoma State +6000
UCF +20000
Utah +30000
Colorado +30000
Kansas State +50000
Big 12 Conference Best Bets
Iowa State Over 12.5 Conference Wins (+160)
The Cyclones have a lot to replace from a Sweet 16 team last year. One big boost for them was Tamin Lipsey being granted another year of eligibility l. The three-time All-Big 12 selection is one of the best defensive guards in the country. T.J. Otzelberger consistently builds elite defenses. He attacked the transfer portal hard in the offseason to replenish the talent that helped him get to the Sweet 16 last season.
The Cyclones added a ton of depth in the portal. Jaquan Johnson (Bradley): Averaged 16.9 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.5 steals. Ryan Prather Jr. (Robert Morris): Averaged 15.7 points and has strong shot-making ability. Leon Bond III (Northern Iowa): Brings size, athleticism, and defensive versatility. Tre Singleton (Northwestern): Adds frontcourt depth and rebounding. Taj Manning (Kansas State): Another experienced frontcourt option. They’ll have a solid 9-10 man rotation, keeping their defense fresh and fierce.
Arizona to Win Big 12 Regular Season (+275)
The Wildcats made the Final Four and had a stellar year last season. Can they repeat as Big 12 champions this season is the question. They’ve got some great pieces to build with. Motiejus Krivas is back. At 7-foot-2, Krivas gives Arizona something that is incredibly difficult to find: a legitimate interior defensive presence who can also score efficiently. Ivan Kharchenkov is also back for the Wildcats. He’s a versatile wing who can defend multiple positions, create opportunities, and contribute offensively.
The bottom line is that Tommy Lloyd has built a winning program and mentality. He’s got these two stars returning, a great recruiting class to build on, and solid transfer portal players joining the team. North Carolina, one of the most storied teams in the history of the sport, came calling, and Lloyd turned it down because he knows what he’s built in Tucson.
