The seventh-ranked Baylor Bears hit the road in college football action when they take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday afternoon at AT&T Stadium. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start time and it will be televised live on ABC or ESPN2 depending on regional coverage. Currently the betting odds for the game have the Bears favored by almost four touchdowns.
Baylor is still on the outside looking in for the college football playoffs this season, despite having a 9-1 record overall and averaging 50 points per game, the most points of anybody in the country per game. Baylor's lone loss came at West Virginia and everybody knows about their situation with TCU being ranked higher despite the Bears holding the straight-up win. But Baylor has a chance to pick up some much needed respect by blowing out Texas Tech on a neutral field before hosting No. 12 Kansas State next week. They're going to need some help to end up in the four that make the playoffs, but there's still a chance.
Bryce Petty has tossed better than 2,600 yards and 23 TDs this season to lead the Bears. Baylor actually has a pretty solid running game this season as well, piling up almost 240 yards on the ground per game. The wide-open offense has kept Baylor scoring early and often and that should not change in this game at all.
Texas Tech is not good at defense, giving up 40.6 points per game, which ranks 125th in the country. That doesn't bode well for them taking on a Baylor team that hangs half a hundred on opponents. Texas Tech has been decent offensively, scoring 29 points per game themselves, but it's not nearly as good as they have been in recent seasons. Sometimes things just go this way and Texas Tech is having a tough season. They have a ton of money invested in Kliff Kingsbury so they'll ride it out. There won't be a bowl game for the Red Raiders either, so this is the game Kingsbury has to rally the troops and get them to play with a maximum effort.
But will it be enough? The Red Raiders are playing a freshman quarterback in Patrick Mahomes who has gone over 300 yards each of the last two games with four touchdowns in each game. Baylor's defense isn't the best in the country but they should be able to get to the frosh and cause him some discomfort. The defense for the Bears could be the difference in this one as Texas Tech just won't be able to stop Baylor offensively.
Baylor needs to look good, too. They're fighting for a potential playoff spot.
Free Pick: Baylor 55, Texas Tech 28
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