March Madness is officially underway, and the Big 12 Conference once again has a strong presence in the NCAA Tournament bracket. With multiple teams representing the league across the field, oddsmakers have already released the opening betting lines for each matchup involving a Big 12 program.
Several conference teams enter the tournament as heavy favorites, while a few others are expected to face tighter battles in the opening round. Here’s a look at the current point spreads for each Big 12 team heading into their first-round games.
TCU vs. Ohio State
The TCU Horned Frogs will enter their matchup as slight underdogs against the Ohio State Buckeyes, with Ohio State listed as a 2.5-point favorite. That suggests oddsmakers expect a competitive game between two evenly matched teams. TCU battled through the Big 12 schedule and will look to use that experience to pull off the upset.
BYU vs. Texas/NC State
The BYU Cougars are still waiting to learn their opponent, as they will face the winner of an upcoming First Four game. Because of that, a betting line has not yet been released for BYU’s opening-round matchup.
Houston vs. Idaho
The Houston Cougars enter the tournament as one of the biggest favorites among Big 12 teams. Houston is currently listed as a 23.5-point favorite against Idaho, reflecting the Cougars’ dominant defense and status as one of the top teams in the country.
Texas Tech vs. Akron
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are also favored heading into their first-round matchup with Akron. Oddsmakers have Texas Tech listed as a 7.5-point favorite, suggesting confidence in the Red Raiders’ physical style of play and ability to control the game.
Arizona vs. Long Island
No Big 12 team has a larger spread in the opening round than Arizona. The Wildcats are listed as a massive 31.5-point favorite against Long Island, highlighting the significant gap oddsmakers see between the two programs entering the tournament.
Iowa State vs. Tennessee State
The Iowa State Cyclones are another heavy favorite, currently sitting as a 25.5-point favorite over Tennessee State. Iowa State’s defensive intensity and balanced scoring attack have made them one of the most dangerous teams in the bracket.
UCF vs. UCLA
One of the more competitive matchups involving a Big 12 team features UCF taking on UCLA. The Bruins are listed as a 5.5-point favorite, setting up what could be a tightly contested battle between two athletic teams.
Kansas vs. California Baptist
The Kansas Jayhawks enter the tournament as a 14.5-point favorite against California Baptist. Kansas has the experience and talent to make another deep run, and oddsmakers clearly believe the Jayhawks should handle their first-round opponent.
With the Big 12 sending multiple teams into the tournament, the conference will once again be under the national spotlight. Now the only question is which of these programs will live up to expectations and which could end up busting brackets across the country.
