Big 12 teams posted just a 45-51-2 pointspread record out of conference last season, a trend that college basketball betting fans will be watching this year. With Colorado and Nebraska having departed to the Pac-12 and Big Ten, respectively, the Big 12 will have 10 teams this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2010/11 season are in parentheses:
BAYLOR (18-13, 7-16 ATS, 9-14 O/U)
Perry Jones (13.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG), the first Baylor player to earn Freshman All-America honors, Quincy Acy (12.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG) and Anthony Jones (8.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG) gives the Bears the best frontcourt in the Big 12. A.J Walton, who ranked second in the conference in assists, will get them the ball.
Sportsbook Buster: The Bears were 5-12 ATS in conference games last season.
Sports Betting Angle: Baylor was only 5-11 as a favorite last year.
Bets and Pieces: The Bears were 0-5 ATS in games following a pointspread win in 2010/11.
MISSOURI (23-11 SU, 12-17 ATS, 15-12-1 O/U)
The top six scorers return, led by guard Marcus Denmon (16.9 PPG, 44.3%3 pt.), a conference Player of the Year candidate. Lawrence Bowers (11.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG), Ricardo Ratliffe (10.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG), Michael Dixon (10.3 PPG) and Kim English (10.0 PPG) give the Tigers five double-digit scorers.
Sportsbook Buster: The Tigers are 6-12 ATS on the road the last two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Missouri is 16-7 as a home favorite the past two years.
Bets and Pieces: The Tigers were 5-9 ATS on two or fewer days rest.
KANSAS (35-3 SU, 19-17 ATS, 19-15 O/U)
Four starters are gone but the Jayhawks reload more than rebuild so look for a good but not great team built around guard Tyshawn Taylor (9.3 PPG), who shot 38 percent from beyond the arc, and Thomas Robinson (7.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG) last year's sixth man.
Sportsbook Buster: The Jayhawks are 37-21-2 ATS at home the past four seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Kansas is 7-2-1 ATS after a SU loss the last three years.
Bets and Pieces: Since 2010, the Jayhawks are 12-24 ATS on three or more days rest.
TEXAS A&M (24-9 SU, 13-11-1 ATS, 9-15-1 O/U)
The Aggies have strength in the paint with Khris Middleton (14.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG) and David Loubeau (11.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG) but new Head Coach Billy Kennedy will have to develop a competent backcourt if Texas A&M is take part in March Madness for the seventh straight season.
Sportsbook Buster: The Aggies are 14-6 ATS on neutral courts the last three seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Texas A&M is 11-5-1 ATS after a SU loss the past two years.
Bets and Pieces: The "under" was 10-4-1 when the Aggies were favored.
TEXAS (28-8 SU, 20-11 ATS, 11-19 O/U)
The Longhorns lost all five starters from a year ago so six freshmen from yet another highly recruited class will have to have an impact if Texas is to attend its 14th consecutive Big Dance. The best of the holdovers is J'Covan Brown (10.4 PPG), last year's sixth man.
Sportsbook Buster: The Longhorns were 8-3 ATS on the road last season.
Sports Betting Angle: Texas was 13-6 ATS inside the Big 12 last year.
Bets and Pieces: In 2010/11, the "under" was 16-8 when Texas was a favorite.
KANSAS STATE (23-11 SU, 12-16 ATS, 12-16 O/U)
The Wildcats' streak of five straight 20-win seasons is in jeopardy as they face an uncertain future without guard Jacob Pullen (20.2 PPG) and two other starters. Third-team All-Big 12 guard Rodney McGruder (11.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG) will be at the center of this year's effort.
Sportsbook Buster: The Wildcats are 27-16-1 as a favorite the last two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: The past two years, KSU is 11-5 ATS in games after a SU loss.
Bets and Pieces: The "under" was 8-3 in the ‘Cats non-conference games last season.
OKLAHOMA (14-18 SU, 12-14 ATS, 9-14-3 O/U)
Andrew Fitzgerald, who led the Sooners in points, rebounds, steals and blocked shots, will be the centerpiece of Lon Kruger's first team in Norman. Kruger has won wherever he's been and with three other returning starters, should get things moving here, too.
Sportsbook Buster: The Sooners are 4-9 as road underdogs the last two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Last year, Oklahoma was 5-11 ATS in games following a SU loss.
Bets and Pieces: The "under" was 5-1-2 in Sooners non-conference games in 2010/11.
OKLAHOMA STATE (20-14 SU, 14-14-1 ATS, 12-17 O/U)
Long range gunner Kelton Page (13.2 PPG) will get some help from a recruiting class viewed as the best in the conference. LeBryan Nash is the gem of the group but expect the Cowboys, who have a difficult schedule, to struggle early in the season.
Sportsbook Buster: The Cowboys are 25-11-1 as a favorite the past three seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: OSU is 6-14 ATS on the road the last two years.
Bets and Pieces: The "under" was 11-4 when the Cowboys were underdogs last season.
IOWA STATE (16-16 SU, 16-12 ATS, 14-12 O/U)
Second year Head Coach Fred Hoiberg, who won only three conference games last season (3-13) is hoping that a pair of newcomers, Penn State transfer Chris Babb, Michigan State transfer Chris Allen, will shore up his depleted backcourt. This is a work in progress.
Sportsbook Buster: The Cyclones are 13-20-1 ATS in conference play the last two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: The last two years, the "over" is 20-14 when Iowa State is an underdog.
Bets and Pieces: The Cyclones were 11-6 ATS on three or more days rest last season.
TEXAS TECH (13-19 SU, 12-15 ATS, 14-10-1 O/U)
Billy Gillispie, who had great success at Texas A&M before heading off to Kentucky in a failed experiment, returns to the Lone Star state to coach a team without a returning double-digit scorer that was last in defense in the Big 12 in 2010/11. Gillispie needs time.
Sportsbook Buster: The Red Raiders are 3-7 as home favorites the last two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: The "over" is 20-14-1 in Texas Tech conference games the past two years.
Bets and Pieces: The Red Raiders were 2-8 ATS versus non-conference foes last season.
This is the second of a 2011/12 NCAA basketball betting preview series.
Next: Handicapping the Big Ten Conference.
This article was written by Luken Karel for http://www.thegreek.com. The Greek Sportsbook & Casino is host to one of the top online sportsbooks offering college football betting and sports betting on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and all other major sports. The Greek is a must have sports betting and entertainment portal with one of the largest wagering menus available online. Article reproductions must include a link pointing to http://www.thegreek.com
