Staff Predictions: Baylor Travels to Houston For Matchup against Cougars

The SicEm365 Staff gives their predictions for Baylor’s (6-4, 4-3) showdown versus the Houston Cougars (4-6, 3-4). Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 23, at TDECU Stadium, and the game will be televised on FS1.

Colt Barber (8-2) — Baylor 34, Houston 14

This should be Baylor’s opportunity to put together a full defensive performance and not just a good half. I like Baylor to have solid offensive success but moderate rushing success that shortens the game in the second half. 

Brian Ethridge (3-7) — Houston 38, Baylor 14

UH had Baylor's number in 2023 and is on track to continue it in 2024. The bright lights of Fertitaland will be too much to overcome as the Coogs take down the Bears as a 60-year-old Chuck Weatherspoon does his best Mike Tyson and suits up to play for one more touchdown.

Ashley Hodge (8-2) — Baylor 34, Houston 24

Death, taxes and Sawyer Robertson.  Houston has a salty defense, but I can't see them holding this Baylor offense under 30.  

David Smoak (8-2) — Baylor 26, Houston 17

Someone within the program told me, “The UH defense will be our biggest challenge offensively this season,” yet the Baylor offense is in such a great rhythm and, in the end, too much for the Cougars. A note I haven’t seen mentioned much during the four-game winning streak: Baylor has turned the ball over only once while creating five in their favor.

Paul Catalina (8-2) — Baylor 44, Houston 21

Baylor is on a roll, and the Houston offense is spotty. Quarterback Zeon Chriss will get some plays in, but the Bears are locked in and should handle the Cougs. 

Craig Smoak (8-2) — Baylor 29, Houston 20

The Bears are in for a slugfest but manage enough explosives, and the defense limits the damage to complete the Texas sweep and win their fifth straight. Several big-play threats have emerged over the past month, and that's good because the offense needs all hands on deck.

Grayson Grundhoefer (8-2) — Baylor 33, Houston 13

The Bears' offense is operating at a high level right now, and Houston won’t be able to keep up with it. I expect the defense to play well in a very favorable matchup. We will see complementary football on Saturday.

Travis Roeder (8-2) — Baylor 31, Houston 17

Baylor’s offense is playing like a top-20 offense nationally, led by one of the nation’s best QB + RB combos. Even if Houston slows Baylor down in a way they haven’t been in more than a month, I can’t see them suffocating Baylor’s offense. Even if it doesn’t look pretty, I think Baylor gets to 28-plus in this one. 

Sam Bradshaw (9-1) — Baylor 24, Houston 17

Baylor protects the ball, doesn’t let a big return skew things and has the passing attack to get just enough on UH’s strong defense. On the flip side, Houston makes plays but gets disrupted too often and can’t exploit Baylor in the air the way recent foes have.

Kendall Kaut (7-3) — Baylor 35, Houston 21

The Bears are just a better football team. Willie Fritz needs time to get his guys, but the Bears have Sawyer Robertson. 

Garrett Ross (8-2) — Baylor 34, Houston 17

Houston's defense is really good, and it could give Baylor some trouble, but the Bears should be able to pull away in the second half. 

Levi Caraway (6-4) — Baylor 27, Houston 13

The Cougars' stout defense should be a bigger test for Baylor than what it has faced in recent weeks. The good news is that Houston will likely have to choose between limiting Sawyer Robertson or Bryson Washington. Good luck stopping both.