Utah
2024 Big 12 championship odds, picks: Utah, Kansas State lead favorites; Coach Prime has Colorado a value play
The Big 12 enters the 2024 season as the most wide open major conference in college football. Out of 16 teams in the expanded league, eight hold at least 12-1 odds to win the conference as founding members Texas and Oklahoma abdicate to join the SEC.
The Sunflower State makes its case as the center of the Big 12 world as Kansas State and Kansas both rank among the three programs with the best odds. However, the Pac-12 newcomers also give the conference some serious firepower in Year 1. Utah sits as a co-favorite with the ‘Cats, while Arizona is next in line at No. 4.
Last season, heavy preseason favorite Texas captured the crown after fielding +125 odds. However, Oklahoma State rose up from +2800 to reach the Big 12 title game. The year prior, Kansas State had +2500 odds, but shocked TCU in the title game to win its first Big 12 championship in a decade. Unquestionably, a team from well outside the pack has a chance to make its mark in 2024; but making that choice more complicated, only six total teams have worse than 20-1 odds.
Without further ado, here are the Big 12 title odds for 2024 according to SportsLine consensus and a few of the teams who could entice betters this offseason.
Best Bet — Utah (+350): On paper, Utah is the class of the Big 12. The Utes have won 39 games over the last four full seasons and won two of the three final Pac-12 titles. Utah’s offense was a liability last season, but get quarterback Cameron Rising and tight end Brant Kuithe back. USC transfer Dorian Singer headlines a trio of talented wide receivers who should immediately elevate what was the Pac-12’s worst passing offense. Under Kyle Whittingham, defense will never be an issue. Utah appears to be the most complete team in the conference and deserves top billing entering its first season in the Big 12.
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Worst Wager — Kansas (+650): Frankly, there isn’t a truly bad bet on the board. Eight teams — half the conference — have 12-to-1 odds or better, and deservedly so. Kansas emerging as the best team in the Big 12 wouldn’t be much of a surprise. Ultimately, the reason we have them as the worst wager comes down to one factor: Jalon Daniels. The Kansas quarterback is arguably the best offensive player in the conference when healthy, but missed the entire Big 12 slate last season with a nagging back injury. Unlike last season, Kansas does not have a clear backup plan, with former walk-on Cole Ballard as the likely backup. With such a big question mark, Kansas is slightly overvalued as the No. 3 betting favorite in the Big 12, ahead of Oklahoma State and Arizona.
Value Pick — Oklahoma State (+1200): The Cowboys may not be a sexy pick fresh off a trip to the Big 12 title game last season, but enough to drop to the seventh-best odds in the conference? Oklahoma State boasts the third-most returning production in the nation, headlined by superstar running back Ollie Gordon II and star edge rusher Collin Oliver. Defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo went through some growing pains in his first season, but the Cowboys found their groove as the season went on. If Oklahoma State can at least split a Big 12-opening run against Utah and Kansas State, the Cowboys will be right in the driver’s seat to return to the Big 12 Championship Game — and maybe win their first Big 12 title since 2011.
Long shot — Colorado (+4000): There are 10 teams with 20-1 or better odds, but for a true long shot, why not sprinkle a few dollars on Colorado? Granted, the Buffs’ path is incredibly difficult. There’s a chance things don’t click at all and CU is barely fighting for a bowl game. But if Colorado’s changes magically take hold, the Buffaloes boast one of the highest hypothetical ceilings in the Big 12. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders and cornerback Travis Hunter are future first rounders, the skill positions are strong and the trenches have been built from scratch (though we’ll see if this is a good thing). Essentially, this is a +4000 bet that five new offensive linemen can build chemistry in one offseason. It’s not a great bet, but certainly worth a shot at such long odds.
Utah
Utah Extends Point Streak to Four Games in Overtime Loss in Chicago | Utah Mammoth
The Mammoth had strong pushes in the game, especially over the last five minutes of the third period; however, the team struggled to sustain that effort through a full 60 minutes. Following the game, Guenther and Tourigny reflected on what Utah needs to improve to find a higher level of their team game.
“We had a good start, but I think we could not sustain the pressure,” Tourigny said postgame. “The most important thing was our simplicity. I think we complicated too many things offensively that allowed them to cut plays and counterattack and that’s what I didn’t really like. I think we needed to establish our simplicity and that’s the way we scored our first goal, but we did not sustain that. A little bit disappointed. I think we finished the third period strong with a good forecheck. That’s the way we should have played for 60 (minutes).”
“Not our best game I don’t think,” Guenther said postgame. “Just feed into their hands for whatever reason. They’re really good transitionally and just a little bit stubborn. Not enough shots but got a point. Still important to get points. Put us in a good spot heading into the last game (of the road trip).”
A positive takeaway from tonight is Guenther hitting the 30-goal benchmark for the first time in his career. Guenther is one of 21 players to hit 30 goals in the NHL this season and the forward is on a four-game point streak (3G, 3A) on the road trip.
“Really good backcheck from (Schmaltz),” Guenther recalled on his first period goal. “Kind of a 2-on-1 with me and (Keller). Usually, we try to get it up, but I feel like the goalie was there, so I just tried to slide it through, and I got lucky and it went in. So nice play by those two guys.”
Not only does Guenther have three goals in the last four games, he has five goals since the Olympic break (7GP). He reflected on the confidence he has with his game and his development.
“It’s nice,” Guenther shared. “That’s kind of what’s got me into the league is being able to score. I think that I’ve rounded out my game and become a more complete player, but that’s still what I’m good at. It’s nice to contribute that way, and there’s still a lot of games to go.”
“For me what I like about (Guenther) this year is he has more ways to (score),” Tourigny explained. “It’s not just his shot; he has more than that. He’s been playing good lately since the start of the trip, I like his game.”
It’s a quick turnaround for Utah as the Mammoth play the Minnesota Wild tomorrow night. However, tomorrow is an opportunity to adjust and make improvements from tonight’s game. The Mammoth have won the first two games in their season series with the Wild, and Utah expects a strong effort from Minnesota.
“We’ve played them well too and I feel like they haven’t played their best against us,” Guenther shared. “So, they’re going to come with a good push. We’re on a back-to-back so I think just how smart we are and how we handle the first five, 10 minutes will be important.”
Additional Notes from Tonight (per Mammoth PR)
- Defensemen Nick DeSimone and Ian Cole each had assists on Hayton’s goal in the first. Both blueliners have assists in two-straight games.
- Keller has extended his point streak to four games (1G, 5A). He has now registered 14 points in nine contests since the start of February (3G, 11A).
- Guenther has now scored in three of four games on this road trip, with six points in those contests (3G, 3A). Guenther and Keller are tied for most goals by any Utah skater in a single season (30).
Upcoming Schedule
Utah
Widow of protester killed files lawsuit against organizers of Utah ‘No Kings’ rally
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The widow of Afa Ah Loo, the man killed during a No Kings Rally in Salt Lake City, filed a lawsuit against protest organizers and the man accused of firing the fatal shot.
Laura Ah Loo filed the lawsuit Monday, claiming the armed “peacekeeper” and the protest organizers’ negligence caused the death of her husband.
The protest was part of the No Kings Rally, which was held in every state nationwide on June 14, 2025. The National 50501 organization led the movement, with local groups organizing protests in their respective states.
In Salt Lake City, an estimated 10,000 people showed up to protest.
During the event, Matthew Alder, a member of the security team, allegedly fired into the crowd after spotting a protester carrying a rifle. Prosecutors said he shot three times, striking the armed protester and killing a bystander.
The widow of the man killed is now suing Alder for negligence, with the lawsuit saying it “should have been obvious that any errant shot fired would pose a lethal danger to bystanders.”
MORE | ‘No Kings’ Protest Shooting:
The lawsuit claims that there was no imminent threat, but even if he believed there to be one, Alder could have moved several feet to the west and shot against a wall and not into the crowd.
“Defendant Alder, with little to no known training in crowd control or de-escalation, failed to clear an area behind Gamboa and instead simply started to fire his gun,” the lawsuit reads.
Laura Ah Loo is also suing organizers, claiming they didn’t properly train or vet all the members of the security team, nor did they inform law enforcement and the public of the armed peacekeepers.
“Defendants’ breaches of these duties resulted in a perfect storm of negligence that caused the only known fatality among a march of millions of Americans,” the lawsuit reads.
She is seeking damages for pain and suffering, lost wages and economic support, and funeral costs.
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Utah
Utah drivers rethink budgets as gas prices jump
SALT LAKE CITY — When Kimberly L. pulled up to the gas pump on Sunday, she was unfortunately prepared for the prices that awaited her.
“Between my husband’s truck and my car, we’re well over $300 a month in gas,” she said. “It hits your pocket, and we’ve got a one-working-person household of four, so we’ve had to budget differently.”
This is one of the reasons why she was driving a motorcycle.
“I’m actually probably going to be riding this a lot more often. Gets way better gas mileage than any of our vehicles,” she added.
According to AAA, as of Sunday, average gas prices in Utah were around $3.16 compared to $2.74 the week prior.
“I went to go get gas the other day, and I spent $10 on two and a half gallons of gas. And it was insane,” said Grace Wieland from Park City. “Most of my activities are down in Salt Lake, so it’s hard to come down here every week and do the things I love to do whenever gas is so expensive.”
“At work, I make around $18 an hour, and that’s not even a full tank. It’s like two hours at work is one tank, which is kind of crazy,” said Addison Lowe, who is also from Park City.
According to Gas Buddy, the rising prices come after the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, impacting ships that carry large amounts of oil that pass through the Straight of Hormuz, a key trade route.
“Gas prices likely continue advancing, oil prices will likely keep climbing until that oil can move again,” said petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan.
AAA said the last time the national average made a similar jump was in March of 2022 during the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
In the meantime, Utahns told FOX 13 News that they will continue to budget and hope prices go down sooner rather than later.
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