Big 12 Tournament Odds: Arizona, Houston Favorites in Stacked Kansas City Field
The Big 12 Tournament will tip off on Tuesday afternoon, with the Arizona Wildcats and Houston Cougars at the top of this stacked conference field. Can anyone surprise the lead juggernauts? Peter Alexis breaks down the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament odds for conference championship week.
Peter Alexis - March 10, 2026, 12:15 PM EDT
5 Minute ReadBig 12 Tournament Odds: Can Anyone Stop Red-Hot Arizona Wildcats in Kansas City?
The 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament tips off Tuesday, March 10 in Kansas City and runs through Saturday night’s championship game. As usual, the league enters postseason play as one of the deepest and most competitive conferences in the country. This year may be even stronger than usual, with five teams ranked inside the national top 15 and multiple others firmly in the NCAA Tournament field.
At the top of the odds board sit Arizona (+105) and Houston (+220), two national contenders that have spent most of the season battling for conference supremacy. But the race doesn’t stop there. Programs like Iowa State, Kansas, Texas Tech, and BYU all have the talent to make serious runs this week, making the Big 12 tournament one of the most unpredictable and entertaining conference tournaments in college basketball.
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Big 12 Tournament Odds Odds
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Big 12 Tournament Odds
Team | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
Arizona | +105 | 48.8% |
Houston | +220 | 31.3% |
Iowa State | +775 | 11.4% |
Kansas | +925 | 9.8% |
Texas Tech | +1800 | 5.3% |
TCU | +6500 | 1.5% |
Cincinnati | +8000 | 1.2% |
BYU | +10000 | 1% |
West Virginia | +30000 | <1% |
Baylor | +40000 | <1% |
UCF | +40000 | <1% |
Colorado | +50000 | <1% |
Arizona State | +60000 | <1% |
Kansas State | +80000 | <1% |
Oklahoma State | +80000 | <1% |
Utah | +100000 | <1% |
Big 12 Tournament Odds Breakdown
Arizona Wildcats (+105) Click here to see these best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Arizona enters Kansas City as the betting favorite and arguably the most complete team in the conference. The Wildcats have been absolutely rolling down the stretch, combining elite scoring depth with athleticism across every position.
Their roster is stacked with talent capable of overwhelming opponents on both ends of the floor, and they carry the confidence of a team that has consistently beaten top competition all season. Arizona also benefits from a favorable tournament path early on, with a double bye into the quarterfinals.
The biggest hurdle will likely come in the semifinals, where a potential matchup with Iowa State looms. But if Arizona continues the form that powered them through the final weeks of the regular season, they remain the most dangerous team in the bracket.
Houston Cougars (+220) Click here to see these best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Houston might have the best defense in the entire country, ranking among the top five nationally in defensive efficiency. Kelvin Sampson’s teams are known for their physicality and discipline, and this year’s version is no different.
The Cougars did hit a rough patch late in the season, dropping three close games to Arizona, Iowa State, and Kansas, several of which came on the road. However, Houston rebounded nicely to close the regular season strong and reestablish momentum heading into March.
The biggest question is offense. Freshman Kingston Flemings has shouldered more responsibility offensively, but Houston will need consistent scoring if they want to knock off Arizona. The Cougars do have one key advantage: their bracket path could allow them to avoid Arizona until the championship game.
Iowa State Cyclones (+775) Click here to see these best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Iowa State might be the most dangerous team flying slightly under the radar. Led by a veteran core featuring Milan Momcilovic and Tamin Lipsey, the Cyclones bring a disciplined, methodical style that translates well to tournament basketball.
The only downside for Iowa State is seeding. As the No. 5 seed, they must play an extra game compared to teams like Kansas and Texas Tech that earned double byes. However, that early game could actually help them find rhythm before the tougher matchups begin.
If Iowa State wins its opening game Wednesday, they could face Texas Tech in the quarterfinals and would likely be a slight favorite. The challenge comes in the semifinals, where Arizona would likely be waiting.
Kansas Jayhawks (+925) Click here to see these best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Kansas once again brings elite talent into the Big 12 Tournament, led by freshman superstar Darryn Peterson, a projected future No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick.
Peterson has dealt with nagging hamstring issues and cramps throughout the season, which has occasionally limited his availability. But when healthy, he is one of the most explosive offensive players in college basketball.
The Jayhawks also rely heavily on veteran guard Melvin Council Jr., who has delivered consistently throughout the year and has proven capable of hitting big shots in clutch situations. If Kansas gets peak performances from both players, they absolutely have the firepower to win the tournament.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (+1800) Click here to see these best odds at BetMGM Sportsbook
Texas Tech’s season took a major hit when star forward JT Toppin suffered a season-ending injury a few weeks ago. Toppin had been one of the Red Raiders’ most impactful players and losing him significantly lowered their ceiling.
Despite the setback, Texas Tech has remained competitive and continues to play disciplined, physical basketball. They are still projected to be a strong NCAA Tournament seed, even if their chances of winning the Big 12 Tournament have diminished.
The Red Raiders may not have the depth to beat multiple elite teams in consecutive games, but they are more than capable of pushing the conference’s top contenders to the brink.
BYU Cougars (+10000) Click here to see these best odds at Caesars Sportsbook
BYU enters the tournament as one of the more fascinating wild cards. The Cougars feature superstar freshman AJ Dybantsa, one of the most electric young players in the country.
However, BYU suffered a major blow with the loss of guard Richie Saunders, who is out for the remainder of the season. His absence significantly reduces the Cougars’ backcourt depth.
Complicating matters further is the bracket. As the No. 10 seed, BYU must play every day starting Tuesday against Kansas State. Winning five games in five days against a field this strong would be extremely difficult, which explains their long +10000 odds.
Who Has the Best Path to Big 12 Title?
While Arizona may be the most talented team overall, Houston (+220) arguably has the most favorable tournament path.
The Cougars are positioned in the bottom half of the bracket, which could set up a Kansas vs. Houston semifinal rather than a potential early showdown with Arizona. That separation gives Houston a realistic route to the championship game without facing the Wildcats until Saturday night.
If Houston’s defense controls the tempo and their offense finds enough scoring punch, the Cougars may be the team best positioned to win the Big 12 crown.
Bubble Watch: Cincinnati and UCF
The Big 12 Tournament also carries major implications for Cincinnati, the conference’s lone true NCAA Tournament bubble team.
The Bearcats enter as the No. 9 seed and begin play Tuesday against Utah. As discussed previously, Cincinnati likely needs multiple wins in Kansas City to seriously improve its NCAA Tournament chances. A win over Utah would help but likely wouldn’t move the needle much; deeper wins later in the bracket would be required.
Meanwhile, UCF is projected safely inside the NCAA field as an 11 seed, but the Knights would prefer not to leave things up to the selection committee. A win in the tournament would guarantee their spot and remove any lingering Selection Sunday anxiety.
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