2020 BIG12 PREVIEW

The college football world is changing every day. With that said, the schedules, win totals, basically, everything below could change tomorrow. It's still better than nothing.

Betting Notes

The current Win Total odds were taken from Sportsbettingdime.com (LINK). Lines are hard to come by these days so who really knows what is available out there.

The bottom of the BIG12 is probably where the safer win total bets will lie this year. West Virginia and Kansas are both very intriguing under bets for me. The loss of a couple of non-conference games, which are generally easy wins, will really make it a long year for both.

- Kansas is coming off a 3-9 2019 campaign that including a loss to Coastal Carolina, who is their lone non-conference game in 2020. They only return 1 career pass at the QB position and that pass was an interception by Thomas Macvittie. Miles Kendrick is the projected starter and he should bring some dual threat ability, but the position will still be a sore spot. Their wins in 2019 came against FCS foe Indiana State, Boston College, and a last second FG win over Texas Tech. All of their conference losses were by double digits except for the other team mentioned here, West Virginia. The talent just isn't there, particularly on defense where they should once again be the worst in the conference. Overall it is just too hard to find 3 wins on the schedule, and especially 4 wins which is what they would need for you to lose the under.

- West Virginia finished with a 5-7 record a year ago, and just 3-6 in conference games. Assuming a week 1 win over FCS opponent Eastern Kentucky, they will still need to find 4 more wins in conference to reach the over. The issue for the Mountaineers should once again be up front. Their offensive line was a huge issue in 2019 and there is not reason to suspect a change this year. Their offense ranked dead last in the BIG12 by a considerable margin per Finnelytics ratings a year ago. They were the only BIG12 team to average less than 100 YPG rushing and their 2.6 YPC ranked dead last with the next closest being a full 1.6 yards above them. In an offensive heavy conference a team with such offensive woes can really fall behind quickly in games and it showed last year.

- Dru Prox- Dru Prox starting off 2019 by leading Kansas in tackling and becoming a captain of the defense by week 4. Unfortunately a his season ended shortly after due to injury. Now healthy look for Prox to be a bright spot of the Jayhawk defense and a much needed leader.

- Jake Smith - The Longhorn receiving room is kind of a mess at the moment. The loss of 2 steady pass catchers in Collin Johnson and Duvernay to the NFL have left the Longhorns with two main contributors in Brennan Eagles and Jake Smith. In order for the Longhorns to get to where they want to be these two will have to step and up replace the large consumption of Johnson and Duvernay. Eagles gets more of the publicity just like Johnson did, however, Smith will need to be that reliable guy just like Duvernay from a year ago. Antoher name to watch is Michigan transfer Tarik Black. A one time highly touted HS recruit, Black failed to produce at Michigan but many a change of scene can help him out.

- JD Spielman - A shaky situation at the Nebraska landed their leading receiver at TCU. A huge addition to the Frogs offense as he should step right into a starter role. Spielman tallied 49 catches for nearly 900 yards a year ago. That production is more than half of what TCU brings back in 2020 with the loss of Jalen Reagor to the NFL.

- Theo Howard - Another transfer WR will look to make an immediate impact, however, this one for the Sooners. Howard transferred in from UCLA and with the shakiness of the OU receiver room at the moment he should be thrusts into action. Haselwood is out with a torn ACL, and Bridges will be serving a suspension for about half the season. This leaves OU with really just 2 returning contributors in Rambo and Wease.

- Marcus Major - Just like the Sooners WR room, the RB room has the same issues. Trey Sermon left for Ohio State in the offseason, Kennedy Brooks is opting out and his OU career is likely over, and Stevenson will also be serving a suspension to start the season. This leaves OU with TJ Pledger, Marcus Major, and freshman Seth McGowan. Marcus Major was the most impressive a year ago and has been making plenty of buzz this preseason.