​Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.For the next few weeks, I’m previewing every college football conference, offering my latest power ratings and projected win totals for each school, while also providing my favorite bets.Here, we’re focusing on the Big 12, which saw Texas Tech win a school-record 12 games en route to its first-ever conference title. So what’s in store for 2026? My 2026 Big 12 preview thinks we could be in store for another Texas Tech/BYU matchup in the championship game.2026 Big 12 best betsPickOdds Texas Tech to win the Big 12 +100 Baylor Under 6.5 wins-140 TCU Over 6.5 wins-155Texas Tech to win the Big 12+100 at FanDuelEven with the downgrade from last year’s team, my power ratings still project the Texas Tech Red Raiders to be double-digit favorites in every game this season.The Red Raiders avoid BYU and Utah (the next best teams in the Big 12) in conference play and get dark-horse Big 12 contender Houston at home.DraftKings has posted a line on the Houston game, with the Red Raiders still favored by 13.5. Meanwhile, Texas Tech is favored by 15.5 at Oklahoma State. Those two could be Texas Tech’s toughest games of the season.I project Texas Tech to win 7.7 games in Big 12 play, with BYU being the next closest at 6.6. I think there’s at least a 70% chance Texas Tech makes the Big 12 Championship game, and right now, I would have them favored by 5.5 points in that matchup.Remember, the Red Raiders were 13-point favorites in last year’s Big 12 Championship game vs. BYU and easily covered.Texas Tech brings back 12 starters from last year (tied for the most in the Big 12) and welcomes 10 transfers who were full-time FBS starters in 2025. Its 22 combined returning starters are tied for the most in college football.This is still the most talented and most experienced team in the Big 12 by far.Bet to -125.Baylor Under 6.5 wins -140 at FanaticsWith a 36-37 record over the last six years, Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda is on one of the hottest seats in the country. Last year, Baylor returned 18 starters, and some prognosticators picked them to win the Big 12. The Bears finished 5-7 and were one of the most disappointing teams in the country.This year, Baylor returns just five starters, including only one on offense.Baylor is bringing in highly-touted quarterback DJ Lagway. However, in his two years as a starter at Florida, Lagway had a mediocre 28:23 TD-to-INT ratio. He’s also been injury-prone, missing several games with multiple injuries dating back to high school.Even with the inexperience, I upgraded Baylor’s power rating this offseason. However, my ratings still project the Bears to be underdogs in as many as eight games.Finally, with a coach on the hot seat, there could be a snowball effect if the team suffers an early loss. Right now, Baylor is a 7-point underdog to Auburn in the opener.Bet to -180.TCU Over 6.5 wins-155 at BetMGMThe TCU Horned Frogs h