After racing to a 6-0 card, the Baylor Bears have now dropped back-to-back games. The team’s off-field issues are distracting these kids big time, but their sluggish defense is also quite instrumental in the shaky performances.
During the winning streak, head coach Jim Grobe’s team was flawless on both ends, pouring in 43.6 points per game, while only allowing 17.1. Most were dominating wins too, as they won four of the six outings by 27 points or more.
In the two losses, however, things went upside down for the Bears. Luck wasn’t on their side against the Longhorns, especially on that 51-yard sideline catch that put their crosstown rival within field goal range to win the game, but they wouldn’t be in that position if they could stop the run.
Longhorns’ back D’onta Foreman rushed for a career-high 250 yards. The Bears had the same mood versus TCU in the following week, allowing average back Kyle Hicks to run for 192 yards and five touchdowns, which are also career-bests. Adding up some of the numbers in the Texas and TCU game, Baylor has given up a total of 1,236 total yards.
With the D getting blasted, it will be up to Seth Russell and his offense to provide a good counter. The senior hasn’t been the most accurate passer this season, only completing 55.5 percent of this throws.
The school’s all-time leading rusher, Shock Linwood, is reportedly suspended for the game, but the Bears will still have Terence Williams in the backfield. In eight games this year, Williams has 691 yards on 5.7 yards per carry, along with eight TDs.
Baylor is 8-2 SU (7-3 ATS) in their last 10 games.
This season’s Oklahoma Sooners are a classic case of a team with great offense and an awful defense. (In short, a typical Big 12 team.) Heading into Week 11, the team is seventh in scoring (44.1), but only 93rd in points allowed (31.6).
With great offense, of course, comes a quarterback with astounding numbers. Baker Mayfield has been one of the most prolific QBs in the college level. He already has 31 touchdowns, 19 of which came just in his last four games, all while completing 71.2 percent of his throws. He and receiver Dede Westbrook form one of NCAA’s deadliest passing combinations today. Westbrook leads all wideouts from ranked schools in receiving yards (1,166) and TD catches (12).
The two, along with running backs Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine, who have acumulated for 1,288 rushing yards and 11 TD runs this season, should have a favorable matchup with the struggling Baylor defense.
As bad as Oklahoma is in giving up points, they could have a great matchup on defense. Baylor will be having a dilemma, running the ball will not be ideal with Oklahoma’s good run D that only allows 3.7 yards per carry, but relying on Russell to pass more won’t be great, too, given his low completion percentage.
The Sooners are 9-1 SU (6-4 ATS) in their last 10 games.
