It’s time for a shootout when the Lamar Cardinals take on the No. 4 Baylor Bears in Week 2 of the college football season. Lamar had a bustling start over in the FCS, taking a 66-3 blowout over Bacone College. That should serve as a big confidence booster when they take on an FBS school in top-ranked Baylor. The Bears are formidable opponents, even for fellow FBS schools, with their explosive offense and punishing defense.
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[sc:NCAAFArticles ]Lamar Cardinals vs. Baylor Bears Preview
Where: McLane Stadium, Waco
When: Saturday, September 12, 7:30 PM ET
Line: Lamar Cardinals at Baylor Bears – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: Fox Sports Net
Betting on the Lamar Cardinals
The Lamar Cardinals soared to a dominant 66-3 season-opening victory against the Bacone College Warriors in Week 1 of the college football season. They’ll have a bigger challenge in Week 2 when they take on a tried and true FBS team, the No. 4 Baylor Bears.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Sharp quarterback play led Lamar past Bacone College, with Joe Minden going 16 for 20 for 170 yards and three touchdowns, while backup Carson Earp went 5 for 6 for 91 yards and two more scores. Wide receivers Michael Handy, Gratian Gladney, Reggie Begelton, DeAndre Jennings and Martell Hawthorn each caught touchdown passes. They accounted for 213 of the team’s 261 receiving yards.
Having plenty of capable receivers should help get Lamar past a solid Baylor pass defense, which limited SMU to 166 yards passing to go with two interceptions in Week 1. A strong running game should be the Cardinals’ way of keeping this game tight. Running backs Emmitt Raleigh, Emmanuel Atoyebi, Kade Harrington and Keegan Mitchell all scored rushing touchdowns.
Baylor showed a weakness against the run in Week 1, allowing SMU to rush for 203 yards and a score in the game. But the defense could struggle against Baylor’s explosive offense, which could score either through the air or on the ground.
Lamar has lost its last five games against FBS schools.
Betting on the Baylor Bears
Seth Russell didn’t have the best of starts as Baylor’s new starting quarterback. He completed just 15 of his 30 passes in the 56-21 season-opening routing of SMU, but did pass for five touchdowns. He should have a more manageable time dissecting a Lamar passing defense that has been regularly torched against FBS schools.
Russell has a handful of capable targets in wide receivers Corey Coleman and KD Cannon, who both had a hundred yards receiving and a touchdown in Week 1. Meanwhile, senior wide receiver Jay Lee had three catches, all resulting in touchdowns, for 70 yards.
What makes the Bears even deadlier is their incredible rushing offense. Shock Linwood and Terence Williams led the way with 75 and 73 yards, respectively, on eight carries each this past Saturday. Heck, even quarterback Russell had a rushing TD of his own.
Baylor also has an explosive defense to complement its offense. Grant Campbell, Patrick Levels and Jamal Palmer all had a sack against SMU. Palmer had four tackles for loss, while Campbell had two and Levels had one. The Bears also have a solid secondary that could make some timely interceptions. Tion Wright and Taion Sells each had a pick against SMU.
Baylor has won eight of its last 10 as the home team, going 6-4 against the spread.
Writer’s Prediction
Baylor rolls to a 50-point victory. Create a betting account now and get in on the hottest college football action.
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