Big 12

Texas Tech is the favorite, but there’s plenty of competition in the Big 12 race

TEAM TO BEAT: TEXAS TECH

Texas Tech is the Big 12’s master of reloading each season in the face of roster turnover, and while there is less of that to do this year, it’s most concentrated on the mound, where it will replace Clayton Beeter and Bryce Bonnin in the rotation. Look for junior college transfer righthander Brandon Birdsell, who can run his fastball up to 98 mph, third-year sophomore righthander Micah Dallas (1-0, 0.57) and third-year sophomore lefthander Mason Montgomery (3-1, 3.00) to get the first crack at weekend starts. In the lineup, second-year freshman Jace Jung (.264/.438/.604) is a solid bet to be the Red Raiders’ breakout star after he enjoyed a standout summer with the Santa Barbara Foresters. He’ll support third-year freshman shortstop Cal Conley (.371/.444/.643), fourth-year junior center field Dylan Neuse (.355/.438/.487) and second-year freshman catcher Nate Rombach (.308/.440/.677), who led the team in homers last season with six.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: PEYTON GRAHAM, 3B, OKLAHOMA

Graham arrived as a freshman at Oklahoma last season at a time when the Sooners were looking for a jolt on offense, and he wasted no time in giving it to them.