With the departures of both Colorado and Nebraska, the door really has swung open for the Oklahoma Sooners (Current Big 12 Odds: 1 to 1.80 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) to walk away from this conference. Texas is down once again this season, and there just aren’t that many teams that we feel can challenge Boomer Sooner. The biggest problem that this season could have is the road game at Okie State at the end of the season. However, Texas A&M comes to Norman, and there shouldn’t be any other difficult road tests on the schedule. This is one of the best teams in the land and is clearly the best team in the Big XII.

Seemingly the only other team that would have a shot of taking out of Sooners is the Oklahoma State Cowboys (2011 Big 12 Lines: 9 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). The only problem that Oklahoma State has is that we’re not sure that the Pokes are going to be able to survive this schedule. Games at Texas A&M, Texas, an Missouri in just a five week stretch are going to prove to be nearly impossible to avoid disaster, and the roadie at Texas A&M probably won’t be fun in the middle of November either. However, QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon could both be in for absolutely amazing seasons and could be playing a spoiler role to the National Championship hopes of the Sooners.

If the Texas A&M Aggies (Current Big 12 Odds: 5.50 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) can play like they did down the stretch a season ago, they really could be for a great year as well. The problem is that we just don’t see QB Ryan Tannehill and this defense being able to take care of Oklahoma on the road. If the Aggies do though, they’re going to be in the driver’s seat, because both Oklahoma State and Texas, the next two biggest challenges that the conference has to offer, are games that are going to be played in College Station, where A&M went 5-3 ATS last season.

2011 Odds To Win The Big 12 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/17/11):
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Oklahoma Sooners 1 to 1.80
Texas A&M Aggies 5.50 to 1
Texas Longhorns 7.50 to 1
Oklahoma State Cowboys 9 to 1
Missouri Tigers 16 to 1
Baylor Bears 20 to 1
Texas Tech Red Raiders 22 to 1
Kansas State Wildcats 36 to 1
Iowa State Cyclones 110 to 1
Kansas Jayhawks 160 to 1