With college football season on the horizon, ESPN Chalk's college football experts -- Phil Steele, "Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris Fallica -- combine to give you betting previews of the top 25 teams, according to the ESPN College Football Rankings. They break down each team's strengths and weaknesses, along with season win total bets and national title odds.
Odds from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Aug. 24.
Oklahoma Sooners
National title odds: 18-1 (opened 8-1)
Season win total: 9.5
FPI win total projection: 10.8
Phil Steele
Strengths: Baker Mayfield is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and he has my No. 1-rated offensive line in the nation blocking for him. With Jordan Thomas and Steven Parker as defensive backs, the Sooners have my No. 13-rated secondary.
Weaknesses: With Bob Stoops' unexpected departure
Over/under (9.5): Right now in Las Vegas, they are an underdog in just one game, and that's at Ohio State. They do have to face Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Texas, all away from home, but they're favored in 11 of the 12 and my pick to win the Big 12. I will go with the over.
National title odds (18-1): I feel that five teams have a legitimate chance to win the Big 12 -- Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Kansas State and Texas. The Big 12 has missed the College Football Playoff two of the past three years. I would have them priced at 15-1, but still no play here.
"Stanford Steve" Coughlin
O/U (9.5): The Sooners had to bring in a replacement for their future College Football Hall of Fame head coach. They had to find new wide receivers to replace a Fred Biletnikoff Award winner and all of their other pass-catchers. On top of all that, they must supplant two 1,000-yard rushers in Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon. I'm not saying that Mayfield can't lead his team to another Big 12 title game, but I just don't want to wager on it happening when there are so many unknown factors that can affect their season.
Their schedule also includes trips to Manhattan, Columbus and Stillwater. I see the biggest challenge for the Sooners being the improvement of the conference as a whole. I think Texas, West Virginia and TCU will all go over their projected win totals this season. I honestly won't be surprised if at the end of the year we can look at the Big 12 and say it is the most improved league in the country and in the conversation for being one of the top two conferences. Under 9.5 wins.
Chris Fallica
O/U (9.5): FPI has the Sooners at 11-1 or 10-2. Even with a loss at Ohio State, will they lose two Big 12 games to go 9-3? The TCU game is in Norman and they have road games in Manhattan and Stillwater, but can they really drop two of those three?
Do note though that Texas, despite its recent struggles, has given Oklahoma trouble. Both the Longhorns and Sooners have new head coaches, so who knows who will have the edge there.
Mayfield is back, as is his offensive line, but there are a ton of losses at the skill positions and the defensive line. I'd say 10-2 is the most likely scenario, but given how bad the defense has been -- along with the offensive losses and that I expect Kansas State, Texas and TCU to be better than last year -- I have a little hesitation.
Title odds (18-1): I just don't know how it will work out for the Big 12 this year, in terms of the CFP. It's still the weakest of the Power Five conferences, and unless its champ is a one-loss Oklahoma with a win over Ohio State or an undefeated team, it's likely the Big 12 will be the odd conference out again.