In the Web: What “They” are saying about Baylor in Week 12
After a gut-wrenching loss to rival TCU on a last-second field goal at McLane Stadium on Saturday, Baylor will head to Austin this week for a Black Friday showdown with the Longhorns. The loss to the Frogs marked the third time this season that Baylor has lost in one-possession games, which is another area last year’s team dominated.
DAVE CAMPBELL’S TEXAS FOOTBALL: Baylor was 4-1 in one-possession games in 2021 on the way to a 12-2 record and a conference championship. The only loss was by two points to TCU. The Bears are 2-3 in one-possession games this season following the one-point loss to TCU. They’d be in Big 12 title contention again this season if that one-possession record was 4-1 rather than 2-3. Those extra two losses are the difference between an impressive or disappointing season. Fine margins.
Last week Vegas was almost spot-on with their line prediction for the Bears and Frogs, but this week seems a bit egregious. The opening line seemed normal, but the game against the Horns took a significant jump on Tuesday.
These two teams are eerily similar. Blake Shapen and Quinn Ewers have been inconsistent all season long, while the strengths of both offenses reside in the backfield. The outcome of this game could easily come down to which defensive line can bend but not break.
Here is the analytical perspective on how this game could shake out.
At No. 23, Texas will be the third-straight ranked opponent that Baylor has faced. The Bears have had plenty of opportunities this season to make their way into the rankings, but have never been able to capitalize on the situation.
Here is a look at the Bears' “Most Deserved” ranking.
With all of the parody in the Big 12 this season, it should come as no surprise that the seedings wouldn’t shake themselves out until the last week of the season. A win by Baylor can place them in third place in conference play, but a loss can send them into a cluster in the middle of the pack.
As the teams look to unscramble the log jam in the final week of the regular season, here is a look at the current Bowl projections for Baylor.
Texas Bowl — Projection: Baylor vs. Mississippi State (247sports.com)
Yahoo Sports:
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
5:30, ESPN
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN
Last Year: Texas Tech 34, Mississippi State 7
Bowl Ties: Big 12 vs SEC
Bowl Projection: Baylor vs Florida
College football bowl projections: Survivor Saturday reshapes CFP; others seek bowl eligibility - The Athletic
As always, get the latest on Baylor Football from SicEm365.com and tune into our pregame show on the 365 Sports YouTube Channel or KWTX on local television in Central Texas!