The Baylor Bears will head to their Big 12 showdown with Iowa State with momentum on their side after beating the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 35-24, on Saturday. It was another impressive victory for the Bears, who improved their season-record to 4-0. They have won their first four games by an average of 28.5 points.
Key to Baylor’s sizzling start has been their red-hot offense. The Bears are averaging 42 points per game this season, 24th in the entire FBS. Just like in their opening three victories, it was Seth Russell who took center stage for the Bears against the Cowboys. He completed 18 of 28 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns. Ishmael Zamora and Chris Platt benefited from Russell’s highly-efficient play, finishing with 175 and 114 yards, respectively. The two receivers also nabbed two touchdowns apiece.
It’s crucial for the Bears that their receivers step up their play once again this coming Saturday against Iowa State. The Bears have already recorded a whopping 14 passing touchdowns this campaign, fifth-highest in the FBS. They will have their work cut out for them, however, against an Iowa State secondary that has been rock-solid this season. They are allowing just 194.8 yards per game via the aerial route this campaign, 35th in the FBS.
Baylor is 8-2 SU and 4-6 ATS in its last 10 road games. The Bears are pegged at +5,000to win the national championship.
Iowa State finally barged into the win column with an emphatic 44-10 victory over San Jose State on Saturday. It was a huge bounce-back win for the Cyclones who lost their first three games by an average of 21.7 points. Iowa State will look to make it two wins in a row when they take on the Baylor Bears this coming weekend.
The Cyclones will need to be at their best, though, against a Baylor defense that’s allowing just 310.0 total yards per game this season. That’s 22nd in the FBS this year.
For Iowa State to record a major shock and cover the huge 17-point spread against Baylor, it needs to get a huge performance from Mike Warren. After a slow start to the season, the All-Big 12 running back finally showed up in the win against San Jose State, rushing for 103 yards and a touchdown. He picked up a total of 171 yards in that victory.
Warren’s return to form will help open things up for quarterbacks Joel Lanning and Jacob Park. The two signal callers combined for 301 passing yards and five touchdowns in the win against the Spartans. Their partnership helped Iowa State rack up 501 yards in total offense on Saturday. They will be severely tested, though, by a Baylor secondary that’s allowing just 142.5 yards per game through the air this season, seventh-fewest in the FBS.
Iowa State is 4-6 SU and 5-5 ATS in its last 10 home games.
