Staff Predictions: Baylor Takes On Texas Tech in Lubbock

The SicEm365 Staff gives their predictions for Baylor’s (2-4, 0-3) conference matchup against Texas Tech (5-1, 3-0). Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 19, at Jones AT&T Stadium, and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

Colt Barber (5-1) — Texas Tech 34, Baylor 27

Tech has won a lot of one possession games dating back a few years. It's almost the polar opposite of what Baylor has done. I do still have faith in this team, but they are running out of chances.

Brian Ethridge (3-3) — Texas Tech 42, Baylor 10

I think Tech's defense is terrible. I don't see Baylor stopping Tech's offense. It will all come down to which team can limit mistakes, and on the road, Lubbock isn't a great place to start limiting them.

Ashley Hodge (5-1) — Texas Tech 37, Baylor 24

Baylor needs to play inspired football to get out of Lubbock with a win. What evidence would lead us to believe that will happen? It's hard to see it.  

David Smoak (6-0) — Texas Tech 33, Baylor 20

There is no doubt Texas Tech is playing with confidence. They have flaws, but they’re finding ways to win, and in the Big 12, you have to win 3-4 close games to be in the conversation. And Baylor has been the complete opposite in finding a way to lose. The Bears don’t seem able to shut off the valve when it leaks.

Paul Catalina (5-1) — Texas Tech 38, Baylor 19

Tech is playing with confidence. Baylor is not. 

Craig Smoak (5-1) — Texas Tech 35, Baylor 31

The Bears look good in their return to action, and Sawyer Robertson plays well in his hometown, but the Red Raiders look a little better and prove too much to overcome on the road. 

Grayson Grundhoefer (4-2) — Baylor 34, Texas Tech 31

Baylor will be the hungrier team, and Aranda’s week of defensive prep will pay off. The best game of Sawyer Robertson's career is coming, and he leads the Bears to a very narrow win.

Travis Roeder (6-0) — Texas Tech 41, Baylor 31

Both teams are coming out of bye weeks, which always adds to the variance in CFB. Importantly, this is Spavital's first bye week to work and fully build this offense around Sawyer, which should lead to some improvements. But I do not like the matchup of Tech's offense versus Baylor's defense; they have more answers, while Baylor's offense is still just the Sawyer show. 

Sam Bradshaw (6-0) — Texas Tech 33, Baylor 20

Tech will challenge Baylor to beat the press-man some, leading to an up-and-down offensive day similar to Boulder. Defensively, I think Baylor will play lightbox counts and do a decent job fitting the run, but Tahj Brooks breaks enough tackles to keep the chains moving. Another winnable game has not been won in a season with several of them so far.

Kendall Kaut (5-1) — Texas Tech 31, Baylor 17

Texas Tech has turned a corner since week one. The Bears struggle to put it together on both sides of the ball and play 60 minutes of good football. I think Baylor needs a couple of timely turnovers to have a shot. 

Jack Mackenzie (4-2) — Baylor 38, Texas Tech 37

This is it. The season and possibly more is decided in Lubbock on Saturday. Off a bye week, the Bears find a way to not get in their own way.

Garrett Ross (5-1) — Texas Tech 38, Baylor 19

Baylor can score on this Texas Tech defense, but I don’t have faith in them coming away victorious. 

Levi Caraway (3-3) — Texas Tech 34, Baylor 24

Sawyer Robertson returning home to Lubbock is an interesting storyline, but Baylor has yet to show that it can play four-quarters of complementary football.

Emory Winter (4-2) — Texas Tech 38, Baylor 28

Bye weeks can be very beneficial for teams, but in Baylor's case, it would have been better for this team to get the taste of the Iowa State game out of Its mouth immediately. This is a good Texas Tech team that will be too much for the Bears. Luckily for Baylor, there are a lot of winnable games left on this schedule.