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

The Big East is going to be a tough conference to handicap this season. There clearly aren’t any National Championship contenders, but there are definitely at least half of the teams in the conference that can claim glory and make it to the BCS. The favorites this year, seemingly as always, are the West Virginia Mountaineers (Current Big East Odds: 1.75 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). The problem that the ‘Neers have is that they have four road games this year in conference play. The good news is that the “Backyard Brawl” is at home in Morgantown, but four road games in the last six games is going to be awfully difficult to survive.

The South Florida Bulls (2011 Big East Lines: 2.75 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook) are the team that could come out of nowhere to win the conference. Of course, the oddsmakers are onto just how good the Bulls really could be with QB BJ Daniels running the ship. It’s only a matter of time until Head Coach Skip Holtz really gets this program rolling, and this could be the year that USF finally gets to the big time.

The other team that is up and coming in the Big East is the Louisville Cardinals (Current Big East Odds: 10 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). The first year for Head Coach Charlie Strong was a great one for the Cards, and if that’s the case again this season, this could be a shocking team to watch. Louisville made it to a bowl game last year, and it isn’t all that far removed from Big East supremacy. Sure, three out of four on the road to end the season is going to be tough, as will those four road games in conference play. However, we were absolutely shocked at what the ‘Ville was able to do last year as the biggest underdog in the Big East, so this year, we wouldn’t be surprised if this is a team that really has a shot of winning the Big East this season.

2011 Odds To Win The Big East @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/17/11):
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West Virginia Mountaineers 1.75 to 1
South Florida Bulls 2.75 to 1
Pittsburgh Panthers 3.75 to 1
Cincinnati Bearcats 9 to 1
Louisville Cardinals 10 to 1
Syracuse Orange 17 to 1
Connecticut Huskies 23 to 1
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 24 to 1

In the state of Texas, football is a heck of a lot more than just a game, especially when two of the teams from in state are playing one another. A Big XII title could be on the line at the end of the season when the Texas A&M Aggies play host to the Texas Longhorns in what is clearly one of the best battles on the NCAA football odds of the season.

Texas Longhorns @ Texas A&M Aggies Picks & Info
Texas Longhorns @ Texas A&M Aggies Date: Thursday, November 24th, 2011
Texas Longhorns @ Texas A&M Aggies Location: Kyle Field, College Station, TX
Texas Longhorns @ Texas A&M Aggies Spread: Texas A&M Aggies -6

Texas was really a train wreck last season, finishing 5-7 and just 2-6 in conference play. Now, Head Coach Mack Brown also has to deal with the loss of his defensive coordinator, and his coach in waiting, Will Muschamp, who fled to the University of Florida in the offseason. This year though, the question is going to be whether QB Garrett Gilbert is going to be able to step up. He was an absolute disaster in 2010, throwing for just 2,744 yards and 10 TDs against 17 picks, numbers which just pale in comparison to those of his predecessors like Colt McCoy and Vince Young.

Texas Longhorns vs. Texas A&M Aggies Past Games (Since 1995)
2010: Texas A&M 24 – Texas 17
2009: Texas 49 – Texas A&M 39
2008: Texas 49 – Texas A&M 9
2007: Texas A&M 38 – Texas 30
2006: Texas A&M 12 – Texas 7
2005: Texas 40 – Texas A&M 29
2004: Texas 26 – Texas A&M 13
2003: Texas 46 – Texas A&M 15
2002: Texas 50 – Texas A&M 20
2001: Texas 21 – Texas A&M 7
2000: Texas 43 – Texas A&M 17
1999: Texas A&M 20 – Texas 16
1998: Texas 26 – Texas A&M 24
1997: Texas A&M 27 – Texas 16
1996: Texas 51 – Texas A&M 16
1995: Texas 16 – Texas A&M 6

For a change, the Aggies are really going to be the decided favorite in this game, something that they haven’t been in a number of years. And why not? Head Coach Mike Sherman saved his job last year by taking out his onetime Heisman Trophy contender, QB Jerrod Johnson and replacing him with QB Ryan Tannehill, who absolutely lit the world on fire. The Aggies have a great returning backfield and should have an offense that is tough to stop. The question is whether or not a defense which allowed 366 yards per game last season and had some absolutely brutal moments against teams like Oklahoma State and LSU can right the ship and keep A&M in the driver’s seat. This should be a game that Aggies fans are definitely looking forward to this season, as it could really be a romp. This might not be a bad number to invest in right now at -6.

Texas Longhorns @ Texas A&M Aggies @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/17/11):
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Texas Longhorns (+6) @ Texas A&M Aggies