NCAA Basketball Betting – Jayhawks, Longhorns in for season-long Big 12 battle
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The sportsbook odds for the Big 12 include the entire conference, but it looks like only two actually have a legitimate shot: Kansas and Texas, both ranked in the top three of the preseason rankings.
One more team may join to make it a three-horse race, but anyone who does horse betting picks knows to go with the thoroughbreds, which are the Jayhawks and Longhorns.
Kansas Jayhawks
Odds To Win The Big 12: -250
Talk about high expectations: the Jayhawks enter this season as the No.1 team in the country. However, when you have two preseason All-Americans leading your team (center Cole Aldrich and guard Sharron Collins), it’s easy for people to put up on a pedestal. Xavier Henry paces a powerful freshman class, and he could step into the athletic role played last year by Brandon Rush. Tyshawn Taylor is back after he injured himself when the Kansas basketball team fought their football counterparts. It’s been a tough offseason for Jayhawks coach Bill Self, but a Big 12 title would go a long way.
Texas Longhorns
Odds To Win The Big 12: +250
The next great Texas guard is the key to the Longhorns’ Big 12 online betting odds in your sportsbook, but Avery Bradley looks like he lives up to the hype. It’s not often you find a top recruit who plays defense with more passion than they have offensively…and he’s pretty good with the ball as well. He’ll have Damion James, a double-double threat, and Dexter Pittman’s weight loss should pay off in the post. Jai Lucas transferred from Florida and he’ll get minutes as well. The frontcourt depth is a little weak, but freshman Jordan Hamilton has potential. Like Kansas, the Longhorns have high hopes with a No.3 preseason ranking.
Texas A&M Aggies
Odds To Win The Big 12: +650
The Aggies lost Chinemelu Elonu and Josh Carter, and they won’t be easy to replace. Carter was their leading scorer, while Elonu was an interior presence. The backcourt should run the show, led by seniors Donald Sloan and Derrick Roland, and there’s depth there as well. The incoming class isn’t all that hyped, but Naji Hibbert could elbow his way into the guard picture. It’ll be a big sportsbook upset if the Aggies win the Big 12.
Baylor Bears
Odds To Win The Big 12: +1000
The Bears fell in the NIT final to Penn State, and now, an NCAA berth is the goal. Baylor lost three starters, and they’ll look to Eke Idoh, who transferred from Michigan, for relief in the post. LaceDarious Dunn never met a shot he didn’t like, and he’ll have more license to fire away with Curtis Jerrells out of town. Nolan Dennis could step into the two-guard role as a freshman. The Bears are small, so they’ll depend on their perimeter scorers. The Bears are like Miguel Cotto in this weekend’s Pacquiao vs Cotto odds: a scrappy underdog who will put up a fight, but they may be overmatched.
Oklahoma Sooners
Odds To Win The Big 12: +1000
The Sooners watched Blake Griffin dominate, and then sent him (and older brother Taylor) to the NBA. You can’t replace a man-child like Griffin with one player, so the Sooners will make up his points with a committee, starting with Willie Warren, who was one of the top freshmen in the nation last year. Freshmen Tiny Gallon and Tommy Mason-Griffin are also looking to contribute, and Tony Crocker provides senior leadership. Ryan Wright and Orlando Allen will try to fill the void in the post.
2009 Big 12 Pick
This year, it’s all about Kansas and Texas, and possibly Oklahoma if Warren carries them there. These two meet once, at Texas on February 8th, and that should be the game of the year in the conference. Still, it’s tough to pick against Kansas with their wealth of talent, and the anchoring duo of Collins and Aldrich. But Texas can play with them, and James adds a threat that the Jayhawks don’t have. Go with Texas in your sports picks this year.
One reply on “2009 Big 12 Basketball Preview”
Got to like the Jayhawks here, maybe Texas as close runner up.