Big 12 Predictions, Odds & Best Bets Week 1

Week 1 action brings a slate of action from the most chaotic power four conference, and Shane Jackson has you covered with his Big 12 predictions & best bets for Week 1.

Shane Jackson

Last updated: August 30, 2024 2:00 PM EDT • 4 min read

Houston Cougars quarterback Donovan Smith hands off the ball to running back Parker Jenkins as we look at our best Big 12 predictions & best bets for Week 1. — Houston Cougars quarterback Donovan Smith hands off the ball to running back Parker Jenkins. Photo by: Maria Lysaker/USA TODAY Sports.

The Big 12 football conference no longer has a national championship contender now that Oklahoma and Texas have joined the SEC. Still, this league remains arguably the most exciting in college football, and we have you set with our Week 1 Big 12 predictions & best bets from the best college football betting sites.

The Big 12 is officially the new chaos league, meaning you never know what will happen weekly. The opening weekend should be routine with several non-conference matchups on deck, but Texas Tech lost outright at Wyoming in Week 1 last year.

Things are so murky that the college football playoff odds don't even have a Big 12 representative on the top of the oddsboard (although someone from the conference will likely make the new format).

Our Week 1 college football predictions aren’t calling for notable upsets, but there are plenty of attractive betting opportunities this weekend.

Big 12 best bets: Week 1

College football odds as of Thursday and subject to change. Track the college football scores for the latest line movement and matchup info.

Penn State vs. West Virginia Under 51.5 (-108 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
Parker Jenkins Over 54.5 rushing yards (-133 via Caesars) vs. UNLV ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Houston moneyline (-130 via BetMGM) vs. UNLV ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best Big 12 predictions this week

College football picks made Thursday; odds subject to change.

Penn State vs. West Virginia Under 51.5 (-108) ⭐⭐⭐

Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki will have an impact in his first year calling plays for the Penn State Nittany Lions. With his unique offensive system, he guided the Kansas Jayhawks to impressive heights in 2021-23.

While that might make bettors want to attack the Over in Week 1, it’s worth acknowledging that Kotelnicki’s offenses run slower. Last year, Kansas ranked 115th in the country in seconds per play.

In addition, Penn State’s defense is arguably the best unit on the field in Saturday’s matchup against West Virginia. The Mountaineers were held to 15 points in this season-opening matchup a year ago.

Our Shane Jackson is also siding with the Under in his Big 12 predictions.

Best odds: -108 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 51.92%

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Parker Jenkins Over 54.5 rushing yards (-133) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

As my Week 1 college football player props column explained, I’m buying a bigger role for Houston running back Parker Jenkins. He ran for 464 yards on 99 attempts during his first collegiate campaign.

Under new head coach Willie Fritz, the Cougars will likely lean into their ground game against UNLV on Saturday. Jenkins is in line for a huge workload after Tony Mathis Jr., a transfer from West Virginia, suffered a torn ACL in early August.

I’m projecting Jenkins to finish with more than 70 yards on the ground, suggesting a solid edge on this Over up to 63.5.

Best odds: -133 via Caesars | Implied probability: 57.08%

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Houston moneyline (-130) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

It’s easy to buy into the Cougars' long-term outlook under Fritz, who takes over the team after eight seasons at Tulane. He has a 71-54 record as a head coach and won the 2022 Cotton Bowl.

But I also like Houston’s immediate prospect of winning Saturday’s opener against UNLV.

The Rebels, who reached the Mountain West title game last year, are dealing with their own transition period. Matthew Sluka, a transfer from Holy Cross (FCS), is expected to start at quarterback.

Houston has the talent advantage at home, so the market is as high as -140 on the moneyline. Take advantage of BetMGM’s bargain of -130, as a $10 bet nets a $17.79 payout.

Best odds: -130 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 56.52%

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Written By:
Shane Jackson

Shane Jackson has been writing for Sportsbook Review since 2022, though his passion for sports, writing, and betting runs much longer than that. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a journalism degree in 2017 and has been covering sports ever since, working for MLB.com, Manhattan Mercury, Lawrence Journal-World, WynnBET, Bet Chicago Sports, BetNOLA, and BetMGM. Jackson cares about creating quality sports betting content above all else. He uses a mixture of models, information, film, analysis, and a top-down approach to locate every best bet shared for SBR. He never gives out a pick that he wouldn’t be willing to spend his own money on. Jackson is focused on finding +EV bets on a daily basis for a variety of sports such as NCAAF, NCAAB, NFL, NBA, WNBA, and MLB. He usually bets on props but is willing to wager on a spread or total when there is an edge. Don’t ask him how many bets he has placed on a typical college football Saturday. Jackson doesn’t care if you follow him on social media, but his Twitter account has info on how you can follow his bets through multiple third-party platforms. He just wants you to read all the great work from the SBR team.