Four of the AP’s top 25 teams will take part in the 2022 Big 12 conference tournament beginning this week. For the second time in conference history, not all 10 teams will participate.
Oklahoma State is out due to a 2017 bribery investigation. The top seven teams received a bye and the teams seeded No. 8 and 9 will play to determine the top eight.
The tournament winner likely comes down to one of the top four. Who will it be? Here are the 2022 Big 12 conference tournament odds and picks.
Favorites to Win the Tourney
No. 6 Kansas and No. 3 Baylor are each listed at +200 to win this year’s Big Ten title. The winner likely will receive a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament too.
The two teams split their two games this season. Kansas blew out the Bears 83-59 at home while Baylor won 80-70 in the most recent game between the two.
The Jayhawks went 6-2 to finish the season. One of the losses was to Baylor. The Bears won their last five straight to earn a share of the conference regular season title with Kansas.
Top Contenders to Be Big 12 Champs
Baylor’s last loss came to 12th-ranked Texas Tech, which is listed at +340 to win this year’s conference tournament title. The Red Raiders actually beat Baylor twice this season and they also hold a 75-67 win over Kansas.
This is one of the nation’s elite defenses and that defense, which gives up 60.7 points per game, keeps Texas Tech in games. The other elite defense in the conference – and the nation – belongs to Texas.
The Longhorns are ranked No. 21 nationally and rank fifth in the country in scoring defense allowing opponents just 59.5 points a game. Texas, coached by former Texas Tech mentor Chris Beard, has wins over Kansas, Iowa State, and Tennessee.
Texas is given +550 odds to win the tournament. Don’t forget, the Longhorns were the 2021 Big 12 Conference tournament champions.
2022 Big 12 Basketball Tournament Prediction
The Big 12 tournament will begin on Wednesday when West Virginia and Kansas State play to determine the final quarterfinalist. Over the next four days, the champion will be determined.
Teams that play great defense will have an edge. That bodes well for Texas, Texas Tech, and Baylor. All three teams are among the top 25 in scoring defense this season.
Texas has been inconsistent and has two losses to Texas Tech and Baylor. While the Longhorns may advance past their first game, they are listed fourth on the board for a reason.
That leaves Baylor and Texas Tech. The Red Raiders own the better defense. Baylor, of course, is the defending national champion and will probably earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament regardless of whether they win or lost the Big 12 tournament title.
Texas Tech has proven it can beat the nation’s best and already has two wins over Baylor.
PICK: RED RAIDERS +340
2022 Big 12 Tournament Betting Lines
Kansas +200
Baylor +200
Texas Tech +340
Texas +550
TCU +2000
Oklahoma +4000
Iowa State +5000
Kansas State +8000
West Virginia +13000
There’s still time to start a sportsbook before March Madness using a pay per head service.
