Big 12 College Football Betting Preview: Arizona State, Kansas State Lead Wide-Open Title Race

Big 12 College Football Betting Preview: Arizona State, Kansas State Lead Wide-Open Title Race originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

A wide-open battle at the top of the conference is set for the Big 12 once again in 2025. Nine teams entered the last week of the regular season with a chance to earn a spot in the Big 12 title game. Considering the depth and returning personnel, along with a small gap in overall program strength, another tight battle is expected in this conference. Arizona State opened ’24 with low expectations and predicted to finish 16th by some, but coach Kenny Dillingham’s team surged to the top of the conference behind quarterback Sam Leavitt and a standout defense. The Sun Devils lost running back Cam Skattebo but rank among the favorites once again. Kansas State, Texas Tech, Iowa State, TCU, Baylor, Kansas, BYU, and Utah headline the list of top contenders behind Dillingham’s program.

The middle of the conference also doesn’t lack for intrigue. Colorado lost Heisman winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders to the NFL, but this program still hopes to take the next step behind coach Deion Sanders. Houston is poised to improve in coach Willie Fritz’s second season, while Oklahoma State looks to rebound after the program’s worst record under Mike Gundy.

Cincinnati is a dark-horse contender to watch behind quarterback Brendan Sorsby, and Arizona is eager to erase last year’s disappointing 4-8 record. UCF (Scott Frost) and West Virginia (Rich Rodriguez) are the only teams with new coaches in ’25.

The season is fast approaching, and Athlon Sports writers Steven Lassan and Kyle Wood are continuing their conference betting breakdowns. Having already examined the MAC, Mountain West, Conference USA, Sun Belt, American Athletic Conference, the Big 12 is now in the spotlight.

ORDER NOW: Athlon Sports 2025 College Football Preview Guide

Win Total: 5.5 at FanDuel; 4.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +5000 at FanDuel; +6000 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +100000 at FanDuel; +100000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Under 5.5 (-110 at FD)
After a disappointing debut, coach Brent Brennan made a handful of staff tweaks and added impact players on both sides of the ball through the portal to turn things around in ’25. I think Arizona has a shot at bowl eligibility if new play-caller Seth Doege meshes well with quarterback Noah Fifita. However, the schedule includes six games against my projected top nine teams in the conference. Five wins is a realistic expectation. Going over requires an upset (or two).

Kyle Wood: Under 5.5 (-110 at FD)
Outside of a 10-win season in 2023, the Wildcats have been mired in mediocrity — or worse — for the better part of the last decade. Quarterback Noah Fifita regressed in coach Brent Brennan’s debut and the defense struggled. Arizona essentially plays 10 Big 12 games with the Kansas State matchup technically out of conference due to a scheduling quirk. It’s hard to envision bowl eligibility, especially with many of its most winnable games coming on the road.

Win Total: 8.5 at FanDuel; 8.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +650 at FanDuel; +550 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +13000 at FanDuel; +10000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Over 8.5 (+104 at FD)
Considering how tightly clustered teams are in the Big 12, repeating as the conference champion will be tough for Arizona State. But coach Kenny Dillingham’s team still has arguably the best collection of returning talent in the Big 12, which includes quarterback Sam Leavitt, receiver Jordyn Tyson, and nine starters back on defense. Road trips to Baylor, Utah, and Iowa State are tough, but the Sun Devils should be favored in their other nine games.

Kyle Wood: Over 8.5 (+104 at FD)
The Sun Devils seemed to be a team of destiny last season — they were picked to finish last in the Big 12 and ended up representing the conference in the College Football Playoff. Can they do it again? Perhaps not, but nine wins seem doable with the duo of quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson back. ASU enjoys one of the easiest schedules in the conference, though it plays at Baylor, Utah and Iowa State.

Win Total: 7.5 at FanDuel; 7.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +700 at FanDuel; +700 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +18000 at FanDuel; +20000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Over 7.5 (+108 at FD)
Baylor found its rhythm in the second half of 2024 by winning six of its seven last games. Coach Dave Aranda’s team is poised to improve on that finish and potentially contend for a spot in the Big 12 title game. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson is entrenched among the league’s best after a strong finish last season. The Bears have room to improve on defense, but Aranda’s track record here should give confidence this team can take a step forward. Some of the toughest matchups on the ’25 slate – Auburn, Arizona State, Kansas State, Utah, and Houston – take place in Waco.

Kyle Wood: Over 7.5 (+108 at FD)
The Bears finished the 2024 regular season on a six-game winning streak, and they brought back many of their key players from that run. The core of Baylor’s offense is back, including quarterback Sawyer Robertson and running back Bryson Washington. There’s room for improvement on the other side of the ball, and the schedule is challenging with 11 games against Power 4 teams, but coach Dave Aranda’s team seems up to the task.

Win Total: 6.5 at FanDuel; 6.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +2000 at FanDuel; +1600 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +46000 at FanDuel; +25000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Over 6.5 (-114 at FD)
Even before quarterback Jake Retzlaff’s transfer, I think BYU was due for some regression off last year’s 11 wins. Turnover luck (29 forced turnovers) and close wins (4-2) in one-score games were due to swing a bit against the Cougars in ’25. The Cougars are a hard team to read right now with the uncertainty surrounding the three quarterbacks vying for the starting job. But I think coach Kalani Sitake will keep the defense near the top of the Big 12 and reload enough on offense to hit the over. The schedule is also manageable. BYU gets Colorado, West Virginia, Arizona, Cincinnati, and UCF – five teams projected 10th or lower in Athlon’s preseason Big 12 rankings.

Kyle Wood: Over 6.5 (-114 at FD)
The departure of quarterback Jake Retzlaff makes the Cougars one of the bigger unknowns in the conference on the heels of an 11-win season. The good news for BYU is it has one of the easiest schedules in the conference and an FCS opener for quarterback McCae Hillstead to get his footing. Coach Kalani Sitake has led his teams to seven-plus wins more often than not, so this is a bet on the Cougars not taking too far a step back.

Win Total: 6.5 at FanDuel; 6.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +2800 at FanDuel; +3000 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +100000 at FanDuel; +100000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Under 6.5 (-130 at DK)
The Bearcats took a step forward in coach Scott Satterfield’s second season with a 5-7 mark after a 3-9 debut. The opener against Nebraska and home dates against Iowa State and BYU loom large for hopes of hitting the over. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby is solid, and Satterfield addressed several needs through the portal this offseason. A bowl isn’t out of the question, but I think Cincinnati is closer to 6-6 than 7-5 or better.

Kyle Wood: Under 6.5 (-130 at DK)
There’s a clear path forward for the Bearcats with quarterback Brendan Sorsby back in the fold. Their success this season — and perhaps the future of coach Scott Satterfield at Cincinnati — will come down to their performance in a handful of swing games, including the neutral site opener against Nebraska. There’s enough talent in place for the Bearcats to eke out bowl eligibility, but the ceiling isn’t much higher than that.

Win Total: 6.5 at FanDuel; 6.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +3100 at FanDuel; +2500 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +75000 at FanDuel; +30000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Under 6.5 (-170 at DK)
Even with quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman winner Travis Hunter off to the NFL, the Buffaloes have plenty of staying power behind coach Deion Sanders. However, the Big 12 schedule in ’25 is tough with with six of the projected top nine on the slate, plus road trips to Houston and West Virginia. Colorado goes bowling, but I’ll take 6-6 for the final record.

Kyle Wood: Under 6.5 (-170 at DK)
Replicating last season’s success is no easy task for coach Deion Sanders with the Heisman Trophy winner and his NFL-bound son out the door. Colorado plays many of the best teams the Big 12 has to offer, and then there’s the annual matter of integrating a sizable transfer portal haul. The Buffaloes brought in a ton of talent to make up for a slew of departures, including quarterback Kaidon Salter, but the conference may be too deep for them to make much noise.

Win Total: 5.5 at FanDuel; 6.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +3100 at FanDuel; +3500 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +100000 at FanDuel; +8000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Over 5.5 (-200 at FD)
In Willie Fritz I trust. I think Houston can go 3-0 in non-conference play and win enough home games in Big 12 action to get to six victories. The Cougars upgraded their lackluster offense with quarterback Conner Weigman (Texas A&M) and added help at receiver and offensive line coming from the portal. Also, new coordinator Slade Nagle is one of the Big 12’s top assistant hires. Getting to six victories won’t be easy, but I think Fritz pushes the right buttons in his second year to get this team to a bowl.

Kyle Wood: Under 6.5 (-140 at DK)
The Cougars are relying on a lot of new faces to turn things around in Year 2 for coach Willie Fritz. The schedule affords them some time to mesh, but it’s not all that forgiving with two of their three non-conference games on the road. There’s reason to project improvement for Houston, but they still profile as a team firmly in the bottom half of the conference.

Win Total: 7.5 at FanDuel; 7.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +1000 at FanDuel; +1200 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +26000 at FanDuel; +18000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Over 7.5 (+115 at DK)
Iowa State is coming off one of its best seasons in school history, so some regression is likely in order. Coach Matt Campbell’s team has to break in a few new faces on defense and reloading quarterback Rocco Becht’s receiving corps through the portal was a priority. Injuries wreaked havoc on the Cyclones’ defense last fall, but with a solid group in place again for ’25, plus Becht’s continued development, the over looks like the play.

Kyle Wood: Over 7.5 (+115 at DK)
The question facing the Cyclones is if they can once again make a run at the Big 12 title again. With so many starters back, including quarterback Rocco Becht, coach Matt Campbell’s team is set up to do just that. The schedule could trip up Iowa State, especially with two early rivalry games — Farmageddon against Kansas State will be played overseas — but it helps to have a grudge match with Arizona State at home. Count on the Cyclones to be in the mix.

Related: Big 12 Predictions for 2025

Win Total: 7.5 at FanDuel; 6.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +1600 at FanDuel; +1600 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +47000 at FanDuel; +25000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Over 6.5 (-155 at DK)
Kansas fell short of preseason expectations last season, but I’ll take coach Lance Leipold’s team to rebound in 2025. Quarterback Jalon Daniels is healthy, and the Jayhawks addressed key needs at receiver and linebacker and defensive back through the portal. Kansas misses Arizona State, TCU, BYU, and Baylor in league play, while Kansas State and Utah come to Lawrence. That’s a favorable slate to hit the over.

Kyle Wood: Under 7.5 (-158 at FD)
The Jayhawks’ schedule should inspire confidence for a rebound after a disappointing 2024 campaign. And after going 1-5 in one-score games, Kansas is due for positive regression on that front. Just how far coach Lance Leipold’s team can swing back around largely hinges on the health and play of quarterback Jalon Daniels. A return to a bowl game is a realistic expectation, but KU still seems to be a step below the conference’s top contenders.

Win Total: 8.5 at FanDuel; 8.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +500 at FanDuel; +550 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +11000 at FanDuel; +10000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Over 8.5 (-108 at FD)
Like every team in the Big 12, Kansas State has its share of preseason question marks. But I think coach Chris Klieman will find the right answers on defense and on the offensive line to keep this team near the top of the conference. Also, quarterback Avery Johnson seems primed for a monster year in his second as the starter. With Iowa State in Ireland, and TCU and Texas Tech coming to Manhattan, I like the Wildcats to hit the over and earn a spot in the Big 12 title game.

Kyle Wood: Over 8.5 (-108 at FD)
The Wildcats have won at least nine games three seasons in a row under coach Chris Klieman. Kansas State certainly has a team capable of winning the Big 12, headlined by quarterback Avery Johnson and a slew of returning starters on both sides of the ball. The season opener against Iowa State in Ireland will be a good barometer of where the Wildcats stand, but it will be a while before they’re seriously tested again. As long as K-State can avoid any major upsets, a return to the conference championship game is in play.

Win Total: 5.5 at FanDuel; 4.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +5000 at FanDuel; +5500 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +100000 at FanDuel; +50000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Under 5.5 (-160 at FD)
Oklahoma State is one of the toughest Big 12 teams to get a read on this preseason. With a revamped coaching staff and around 60 new players, the Cowboys hope for a complete reset after last year’s 3-9 debacle. Coach Mike Gundy’s team should go 2-1 in non-conference play and won’t have to play Arizona State, Utah, TCU, or BYU in Big 12 action. With a favorable draw, a rebound to a bowl isn’t out of the question. But there are too many new faces and coaching changes for me to feel confident in the over.

Kyle Wood: Under 5.5 (-160 at FD)
The Cowboys are coming off their worst season of the Mike Gundy era, and it’s unclear if they made enough moves to even get back to a bowl. Oklahoma State’s conference schedule is mostly manageable if it holds serves at home. The Pokes should be better this fall, but it’s difficult to put much stock into a team that ended last season on a nine-game skid and brings back so few proven commodities.

Win Total: 6.5 at FanDuel; 6.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +800 at FanDuel; +850 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +18000 at FanDuel; +25000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Over 6.5 (-160 at DK)
TCU finished 2024 on a high note by winning six out of its final seven games and that momentum should carry into ’25 with quarterback Josh Hoover returning. Also, optimism is high for the Horned Frogs to continue improving on defense in coordinator Andy Avalos’ second season. Non-conference matchups against North Carolina and SMU are toss-up games but key swing contests against Colorado, Baylor, Iowa State, and Cincinnati in Big 12 play take place in Fort Worth. The Horned Frogs have a handful of toss-up games, so whichever side you bet will require some late-season sweating. With Hoover and a solid defense in place, I think TCU can hit the over and be a dark horse contender for a spot in the Big 12 title game.

Kyle Wood: Over 6.5 (-160 at DK)
The Horned Frogs are perhaps being undervalued in preseason Big 12 discussions. Quarterback Josh Hoover is just one part of a large contingent of returners for TCU. There’s no question that coach Sonny Dykes’ team will be battle-tested, especially playing CFP teams from a season ago (SMU, Arizona State) in back-to-back weeks. If the Horned Frogs travel well, they could easily go over this total.

Related: Big 12 Predictions for 2025

Win Total: 8.5 at FanDuel; 8.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +650 at FanDuel; +650 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +13000 at FanDuel; +12000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Under 8.5(+100 at DK)
Texas Tech won the offseason with its portal additions and new coordinator (Shiel Wood) to improve one of the worst defenses at the power conference level. But the Red Raiders face a tough schedule that includes road dates at Utah, Arizona State, Kansas State, and West Virginia (likely to be much improved by late November). I think Texas Tech will be in contention for a spot in the Big 12 title game, but 8-4 seems like the most realistic record considering the schedule and toss-up games in this conference.

Kyle Wood: Over 8.5 (-120 at DK)
The Red Raiders have been the talk of the conference all offseason, and for good reason. The upgrades Texas Tech made in the transfer portal should have it firmly in contention for a spot in the conference championship. It certainly helps coach Joey McGuire that his team has perhaps the easiest schedule in the conference. With road games at Utah, Arizona State and Kansas State the margin for error is still slim, but the new arrivals will help the Red Raiders where they need it most: Defense.

Win Total: 5.5 at FanDuel; 5.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +6500 at FanDuel; +5000 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +100000 at FanDuel; +50000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Under 5.5 (+100 at DK)
UCF has a handful of winnable home games, including Jacksonville State, North Carolina AT&T, North Carolina, West Virginia, Houston, and Oklahoma State. However, coming off a four-win season and navigating coaching turnover to Scott Frost, along with a roster in complete overhaul, getting to six victories seems like too tall of an ask.

Kyle Wood: Under 5.5 (+100 at DK)
The Knights have been trending in the wrong direction for a few years now, and they’re hopeful a familiar face can turn things around. Coach Scott Frost has his work cut out for him in his return to UCF given the degree of roster turnover. The schedule is plenty forgiving with seven games in Orlando, but seriously competing in the Big 12 may still be a year or two away.

Win Total: 7.5 at FanDuel; 7.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +600 at FanDuel; +600 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +12000 at FanDuel; +12000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Over 7.5 (-150 at DK)
Everything that could go wrong seemed to go that way for Utah’s offense last season. Importing quarterback Devon Dampier and coordinator Jason Beck from New Mexico should have an instant impact and give the Utes a capable offense to go with a defense that should rank among the best in the Big 12. Road games against BYU, Baylor, and Kansas are tough, but Utah gets Texas Tech, Arizona State, Colorado, and Kansas State in Salt Lake City. Coach Kyle Whittingham’s team underachieved last year, but I expect a rebound back into Big 12 title contention. Take the over and sprinkle a bit on Utah to win the conference crown.

Kyle Wood: Over 7.5 (-150 at DK)
Bet against Kyle Whittingham at your own risk. The Utes’ longtime coach is back for a 21st season — one with more certainty at quarterback. Coming off its first losing season in over a decade, Utah made moves to ensure that doesn’t happen by setting up transfer quarterback Devon Dampier for success. The Utes are in for a resurgent season, so long as they continue to hold their own at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Win Total: 5.5 at FanDuel; 5.5 at DraftKings

Conference Title Odds: +4300 at FanDuel; +7000 at DraftKings

National Championship Odds: +100000 at FanDuel; +50000 at DraftKings

Steven Lassan: Under 5.5 (-132 at FD)
I think the Mountaineers are in great long-term shape with Rich Rodriguez back in Morgantown. However, with over 60 new players, question marks along the offensive line and at quarterback to go with a difficult schedule, taking the under in 2025 is a safe bet. The non-conference slate features two toss-ups against Ohio and Pitt, while West Virginia may only be favored in one Big 12 game. An upset or two is needed to go bowling.

Kyle Wood: Under 5.5 (-132 at FD)
The biggest offseason story for the Mountaineers is the return of former coach Rich Rodriguez. Bringing back the coach who oversaw the program’s glory days makes sense, but it doesn’t guarantee instant success. An overhaul is an understatement given the number of fresh faces at WVU. The schedule is also brutal, making a trip to a bowl game just a bit out of reach in Year 1.

Baylor Over 7.5
Kansas State Over 8.5
TCU Over 6.5
Utah Over 7.5
West Virginia Over 5.5

Iowa State Over 7.5
Oklahoma State Under 5.5
TCU Over 6.5

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.

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Big 12 College Football Betting Preview: Arizona State, Kansas State Lead Wide-Open Title Race

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