The Big 12 Basketball Tournament begins this week in Kansas City with 16 teams hoping to win a conference tournament title. When you look at the Big 12 Tournament odds, the Houston Cougars are the heavy favorite. Frankly, at basically 1/1 odds, Houston doesn’t feel like a great value bet this week. They’re the best team in the Big 12 right now, but the value is not there. So if you’re looking for some action, here are three value bets to be had this week.
Here are the three I’d take a close look at.
Kansas Jayhawks
Odds to Win the Big 12 Tournament: 10/1
There’s no doubt it’s been a bad season by Kansas basketball standards in 2024-25. But Kansas got a great draw in this Big 12 Tournament, despite being the No. 6 seed. They will get the winner of UCF and Utah, followed by No. 3 seed Arizona, who they just beat last Saturday. And that would be followed by a game against likely Texas Tech or Baylor. Their side of the bracket avoids the best team in the Big 12 in Houston, along with Iowa State playing in Hilton South, plus the second-hottest team in the Big 12 in BYU.
It’s the best draw possible for the Kansas Jayhawks, who will have the crowd behind them in likely every game they play this week until the Championship Game on Saturday, if they get that far.
Related: Big 12 Bracketology: Two Teams on the Bubble Entering Conference Tournament
BYU Cougars
Odds to Win the Big 12 Tournament: 14/1
How many people know that BYU has won eight games in a row entering the Big 12 Tournament? BYU fans do, but casual college basketball fans probably aren’t aware of this. They’re far more diverse offensively than last season when they lived and died by the three-pointer. They can beat you in many different ways. And while they have a tough path that likely includes Iowa State and Houston, this fan base will come to Kansas City if they make it to Friday’s semifinals.
The defense can be spotty at times, but the offensive fire power is there at every level. Kevin Young has brought a different kind of swagger to a team that has gotten better as the season has progressed.
Kansas State Wildcats
Odds to Win the Big 12 Tournament: 200/1
This is certainly the biggest longshot of the bunch. But we had to throw one in there for you. Kansas State is a few weeks removed from playing some of the best hoops in college basketball. Sure, it’s been much uglier as of late, and their only hope of playing in the NCAA Tournament is winning the entire tournament this week.
But if the stars align, they just might be the long-shot that can pull it off. Coleman Hawkins has been dealing with a fractured tibia, but mentioned the injury was improving last week. If the Wildcats can also get some three-point shooting to return, they could be one of the biggest surprises of conference tournament week.
