OSU Currently Second in Big 12 Title Odds for 2017

We’re nearly five months away from the start of football, but optimism is high in Stillwater. We can look no further than OSU’s head coach to gauge the confidence around the program.

Mullet? Check. Singlet? Check. Rattlesnake boots? Check. “Big Daddy” is looking forward to September.

It’s also that time of year for the odds makers to do their odds-making jobs and speculate their way through the hypothetical that is next year’s football season.

OddsShark recently released their Big 12 Conference Championship odds.

2017 #NCAAF Big 12 Conference Championship odds:

OU +110
OKST +425
TEX +450
KSU +650
WVU +800
TCU +1000
BAY +8000
ISU/TTU +10000
KU +20000

— OddsShark (@OddsShark) April 14, 2017

Holy Longhorn love, Batman!

Obviously, Vegas understands the importance of proper hydration.

In all seriousness, there’s not a lot to argue with in this list. OU should be the favorite until the Cowboys prove they can compete in Bedlam. And let’s not forget that a Big 12 title likely means beating Oklahoma twice. That’s enough to dampen any rattlesnake hunt.

But OSU has the best returning offense in the league and their defense should be athletic, though young; and intriguing, if nothing else.

The Cowboys also figure to be a top-10 team nationally heading into the fall and have been given 40/1 odds at a national championship according to Bovada. That’s down from the 33/1 odds they opened the year with and lands them at 14th highest, tied with Washington who made it to the College Football Playoff last season.

Here’s who came in above the Cowboys.

• Alabama – 2.25/1
• Florida State – 7.5/1
• Ohio State – 7.5/1
• USC – 7.5/1
• Oklahoma – 12/1
• Michigan – 12/1
• Penn State – 16/1
• LSU – 18/1
• Clemson – 20/1
• Georgia – 20/1
• Louisville – 22/1
• Auburn – 22/1
• Texas – 28/1
• Oklahoma State – 40/1
• Washington – 40/1

Vegas likes them some Texas. I know that this is the same song every year but there may be a little substance to it. Whether or not Tom Herman is the guy they need in Austin, he got a pretty nice job-warming gift from his predecessor in the way of two-straight top-10 recruiting classes. Does that mean they belong this high on the list?

Not a lot else that surprises me here except for Georgia. Are they good?

We’ve always known that if the Rudolph-2-Washington connection was around, the 2017 season was one to pencil in for a possible big run. Oklahoma’s coming to Stillwater. TCU and Baylor will be back in town, as well; although neither is coming off a strong year. Baylor may not be in the hunt for a while. 

But the Cowboys have everything they need to make it an historic year. They just have to avoid any stumbling blocks along the way.