If you like touchdowns, then you’ll love the Baylor Bears this upcoming 2015-16 college football season. The Bears return as one of the top offenses in the nation and have a handful of scoring pieces to keep their numbers running high. This season, the Bears will be out for blood after missing the inaugural College Football Season despite a successful regular season.
Think Baylor gets its shot at redemption this season? Read on for everything you need to know heading into the 2015-16 Baylor Bears college football season.
Check out the Bears’ biggest rivals in the Big 12 with our complete preview of the 2015-16 TCU Horned Frogs season. And if you’re into winning national championships, then read the outlook for last year’s national champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]2015-2016 Baylor College Football Preview
Overview
2014 Big 12 Co-champions the Baylor Bears are ready for another run toward a third-straight title. The Bears may miss Bryce Petty, who threw for 8,055 yards and 61 touchdowns in leading the team to back-to-back Big 12 titles. But they should be well taken care off with junior quarterback Seth Russell behind a stellar offensive line headlined by All-American left tackle Spencer Drango.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Russell will also have a pair of incredible talented receivers in Corey Coleman and KD Cannon, who combined to catch 122 passes for 2,149 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. Having running back Shock Linwood, who rushed for 1,252 yards and 16 scores should also help ease Russell into the starting role.
The Bears have ranked in the top four in total offense over the past four years (first in 2012 and 2013). Expect them to remain an offensive juggernaut in the coming season with a beefy offensive line and plenty of talent in the skills positions. The Bears are +2,000 to win this season’s College Football Championship.
Key Player – Shawn Oakman
Russell, Linwood, Coleman and Cannon should rack up plenty of points on their time on the field, but what makes or breaks Baylor’s season will be how its defense performs. Third-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 selection defensive end Shawn Oakman should leads the Bears in this regard after a stellar 2014-2015 season.
Oakman set the single-season school record for sacks last year with 11. He was also a tad shy of setting another record with 19.5 tackles for loss last season, and you can expect him to be even better this coming season. But Oakman will have to deal with some pressure in covering for the Bears’ patchy secondary, one that ranked 101st in passing defense last season.
Key Game – at TCU (November 27)
Baylor’s maligned secondary will be put to the test on the road in a November 27 showdown with the TCU Horned Frogs. The Horned Frogs were Baylor’s Big 12 Co-champions last year; the shared championship being one of their hurdles in clinching a playoff spot.
The Big 12 crown should be up for grabs in this pivotal matchup late into the season. The Bears may have their hands full with TCU and its high-octane attack anchored by quarterback Trevone Boykin.
Best/ Worst Case Scenario for the Season
Best Case
The Bears’ defense improves as the team gets past TCU, wins the Big 12 title and makes its first trip to the College Football Playoff. As one of, if not the best offenses of the nation, Baylor wins this season’s College Football Championship.
Worst Case
Baylor stumbles in their match against TCU and falls out of the College Football Playoff picture. The Bears fall short of a three-peat in the Big 12.
Complete Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, September 4 | @ SMU | 7:00 PM ET |
| Saturday, September 12 | vs Lamar | 7:30 PM ET |
| Saturday, September 26 | vs Rice | 3:00 PM ET |
| Saturday, October 3 | vs Texas Tech | TBD |
| Saturday, October 10 | @ Kansas | TBD |
| Saturday, October 17 | vs West Virginia | TBD |
| Saturday, October 24 | vs Iowa State | TBD |
| Thursday, November 5 | @ Kansas State | 7:30 PM ET |
| Saturday, November 14 | vs Oklahoma | TBD |
| Saturday, November 21 | @ Oklahoma State | TBD |
| Friday, November 27 | @ TCU | 7:30 PM ET |
| Saturday, December 5 | vs Texas | TBD |
Writer’s Prediction
The Bears finish second behind TCU in the Big 12. Football is getting closer by the minute. Create a betting account now and get in on the craze before the frenzy hits.
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