Big 12 Conference Tournament Preview: 2026 Insights & Picks
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Mon Mar 09, 2026, 6:40 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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The Big 12 heads to Kansas City for their conference tournament at the T-Mobile Center this week, and what a thrilling end to the season we had. The BYU Cougars, who were ranked for most of the year, ended up finishing No. 10 in league play, which shows you how stacked this conference is from top to bottom. The Arizona Wildcats earned the regular season title with just two conference losses, but can they parlay that with a run in the tournament? Let's check out our CBB expert picks for the Big 12 Conference Tournament.
Go check out what else I've got on my daily card, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.
Big 12 Conference Tournament – Bracket & Betting Odds
The Big 12 Conference Tournament takes place in Kansas City, where it's been played since the 2010 season
After losing to BYU in their regular season finale, the Texas Tech Red Raiders dropped to No. 4 in the Big 12, propelling the Jayhawks into the three seed, ending up on the MUCH easier side of the bracket. Based on the odds alone, the books think this is Arizona's tournament to win, but there are some teams who are much more familiar with playing in this arena.
Could that come into play? Let's check out the betting odds to be the Big 12's automatic qualifier in the Big Dance.
Koa Peat and the Wildcats are a HUGE favorite to win the Big 12 Conference Tournament
Odds to Win the Big 12 Conference Tournament
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of March 9, 2026 at 6:12 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
- Arizona +110
- Houston +210
- Iowa State +700
- Kansas +800
- Texas Tech +1800
- BYU +6000
- TCU +7000
- Cincinnati +8000
- UCF 250-1
- West Virginia 250-1
- Arizona State 300-1
- Baylor 300-1
- Colorado 300-1
- Kansas State 300-1
- Oklahoma State 300-1
- Utah 300-1
I would not be willing to bet on Arizona at that current price. There's no doubt in my mind that they win their quarterfinal matchup and get to the semifinals, but that's where things could get dicey. They'll have to play either the Iowa State Cyclones on a neutral site, or have a rematch with Texas Tech, who took them down in Tucson earlier this year. That could be trouble for the Wildcats, and I'll try to leave my bias at the door as I discuss my favorite bet in this tournament.
Big 12 Conference Tournament Picks and Predictions
Flory Bidunga was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
Best Bet: Kansas to Win the Big 12 (+800) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Remember folks, this tournament is being played just 45 minutes from the Jayhawks' campus. And Kansas City is full of alumni. They always pack the arena in this conference tournament, and I would assume most games will feel fairly similar to playing at Allen Fieldhouse. For this price, I cannot pass on the Jayhawks.
They already beat Houston this year, whom they would see in the semifinals. Playing at Allen Fieldhouse East will certainly give them a slight edge, and assuming they make the championship, they should be less than +800 underdogs against Arizona. And they'll probably be favored over either the Cyclones or Red Raiders. But you can't count out Iowa State, and I think they are also worth a stab at +700.
The T-Mobile Center, while sometimes being joked about being a second AFH for Kansas fans, it is most certainly Hilton South. The Cyclone faithful always travel well to Kansas City to support their team, and coincidentally, Iowa State always plays well in this tournament. They won the whole thing back in 2024, and even though they play on Wednesday this year, the extra game shouldn't hurt them too much. Plus, it might even help them find their groove like they did in the second half against Arizona State to end the regular season.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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