Big 12 title odds: Is this Iowa State's year?

Oklahoma hasn't had much trouble navigating through the Big 12, winning all four years since the conference title game returned in 2017. Oddsmakers expect the Sooners to do it again this upcoming season.

The program's a -150 favorite to make it five straight, but will have to fend off a couple rivals. Does the chalk win out again, or is there value elsewhere?

Odds to win the Big 12 in 2021

Best bet

Iowa State (+240)

Head coach Matt Campbell's mission upon arrival in Ames was to free Iowa State from the basement of the Big 12. Entering 2021, the expectation is a conference title.

The Cyclones ripped off a 9-3 record last season, one that could have easily been 11-1, or even 12-0. They dropped their opener to Louisiana despite outgaining the mid-major, then fell to the two Oklahoma schools - who were both ranked top-10 at the time - by a combined nine points. It could have been the season for Campbell and Co.

All hope's not lost, however. This upcoming season's roster can certainly pick up the slack.

Brock Purdy's gearing up for his fourth season as the full-time starter under center, while his running mate in the backfield, Breece Hall, is fresh off Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors. Overall, Iowa State gets 94% of last year's offense and 81% of the defense back, making the Cyclones the fourth-most experienced team in the entire country heading into 2021.

Sign me up.

Team to avoid

Texas (+300)

Iowa State missed a huge opportunity last season; Texas can relate.

Off a crucial Alamo Bowl win over Utah to close out the 2019 campaign, the Longhorns returned the second-most production in the Big 12 last fall, headlined by three-year starter Sam Ehlinger.

The end result? A 7-3 record, a third-place finish in the conference, and a pink slip for head coach Tom Herman.

Now, the Longhorns start from scratch.

Not only is it Steve Sarkisian's first season as head coach, but his roster is inexperienced. Texas is ranked just inside the top 100 of returning production (No. 95) and is tasked with replacing five impact players who were recently drafted.

I can't bet this team at just 3-1.

Sleeper

West Virginia (+2500)

I absolutely love West Virginia in head coach Neal Brown's third season.

The Mountaineers had the fourth-worst odds to win the Big 12 in 2020, yet finished 6-4 and graded out No. 38 in SP+ rankings, ahead of LSU, Liberty, and Boise State. The defense, in particular, was lights out, ranking No. 17 in defensive SP+.

Brown's done a lot with little early on in his tenure, but could strike gold with a group that's top 20 in overall returning production.

Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.