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Baylor Football

Gameday Thread: Baylor (6-6) takes on Vanderbilt (6-6) in the Texas Bowl

December 26, 2018
135,090

BAYLOR (6-6) at VANDERBILT (6-6)

NRG Stadium| 8:00 p.m CT | ESPN

Depth Chart Schedule | Big 12 Standings Roster | Staff 


Storylines of the Week

Baylor is back......in a bowl.

The Bears went 1-11 a year ago and now are 6-6 this season. The tremendous improvement is no surprise given Coach Matt Rhule’s track record at Temple. Temple climbed from 2-10 to 6-6 to 10-4 to 10-3 during his four season there. Baylor is currently on a similar pace but will have the chance to improve on the secon year output by reaching win No. 7. An additional win would give the bears an incredible six win improvement.

Making a bowl is quite an accomplishment but this is the minimum expectation for the program and Coach Rhule has state the same thing. The Bears not only expect to reach a bowl but they expect to win this game and keep the process moving right along. 

Score touchdowns in the redzone

Baylor is averaging 441.7 yard per game which is good enough for 36th in the nation but is only scoring 28.3 points per game which is good for 70th nationally. The most obvious reason why there is a large gap between the two rankings is because of the 75 percent scoring rate in the redzone. That is only better than eight teams in the country, including their Texas Bowl opponent Vanderbilt. The Bears are going to move the ball in this football game against a mediocre defense but they have to get points when they have chances. Vanderbilt ranks 67th in redzone defense so there is an opportunity there to fix the redzone woes of the regular season.


Quote of the Week

“The biggest key is, we just practiced six days straight. They saw the schedule and there were a lot of worried looks on their faces. I told them if we want to have fun at the bowl, we’ve got to prepare now. We did four straight days of Vanderbilt, as if we were playing them today, just like game week. We did that so now when we get down there, they know the game plan, they’ve been prepared, now we’ll go back through starting on Sunday. That allows them to have fun. When we go, we go. When we step on the practice field, I don’t care if you just got done visiting kids in the hospital, or just ate Christmas dinner, or just got in from being out, you’ve got to go. That’s what we’re looking for from our guys. The feeling around our program has steadily improved and during bowl practice it really has come to life. I think the guys are really enjoying being around each other. They all went and they bowled together and laughed and had fun. I think they’re going to enjoy the festivities around the bowl, but at the same time they know that we’re going down there to try to win a football game. They know that we’re facing an SEC team, a good football team that beat Tennessee the way they did to get to this game. They’ve worked really hard so far, and that allows them to have a little more fun while we’re down there, but we’ve still got to work while we’re down there.” — Matt Rhule


Statistic of the Week

Baylor has only given up 3.79 yards per carry over the last three games which is a huge improvement over what they had given up the first nine games of the year. This improvement gave Baylor a great shot to win each of the three but they were only able to come away with one. This group is going to have to step up in a big way in the Texas Bowl as they face a 1,000-yard rusher. Ke’Shawn Vaughn has been dynamic the last four games of the year in which he has had 506 yards and six touchdowns while averaging a whopping 7.1 yards per carry. If Baylor wants to win this game they will have to find a way to continue improving in the run game and contain Vaughn.


Players to Watch

Denzel Mims

As the No. 2 receiver in 2018, the junior receiver has had a really good follow up season to his 1,000-yard season he had in 2017 as the primary target. Mims now has the opportunity to be “the guy” in this football game with Jalen Hurd out. Mims has to show up if Baylor wants a chance to win their fourth bowl game this decade. Vanderbilt has the 70th ranked pass defense in the country so expect Mims to have plenty of shots to make big plays.

Ira Lewis

The senior has had a decent season but has not had dominant streaks in every game like many people were expecting. This game he has another opportunity to show how impactful he can be. Vanderbilt is going to want to run the ball effectively up the middle and Ira has to be disruptive on those plays while also being a factor on pass plays. A complete game by him could be just what the doctor ordered for the Bears.

Clay Johnston

Johnston is going to be a senior leader next year and now is the chance for him to take a huge step in his new leadership role. He is probably the most important player on the defense for Baylor. He will be asked to shut down Vandy’s rushing attack while also making sure the defense is in position for the West Coast attack they will see. I expect Johnston to be all over the field in this bowl game making plays and piling up tackles.

Discussion from...

Gameday Thread: Baylor (6-6) takes on Vanderbilt (6-6) in the Texas Bowl

88,064 Views | 590 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by 4th and Inches
hodedofome
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Dia del DougO said:

Oh my, Lynch probably cost them a pick.


I think Lynch has the pick if Vaughns doesn't run into him.
whitetrash
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Ref just sent #23 for Vandy off the field for something.
boognish_bear
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boognish_bear said:

JusHappy2BeHere said:

This is hands down the worst defensive team we have played this year outside of ACU.

SEC...SEC...SEC The Conference where they play D


We have 675 total yards


With our best offensive player on the sidelines

Well....with Brewer....Hurd may be our 2nd best offensive player
gobears20
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Staff
YESSSSS!!!!!
JusHappy2BeHere
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Van'erbilt? They have no D
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it--always."

Mahatma Gandhi
greggor25
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Ball game!!!
CHP Bear
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Nice win.
Branch155
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Thankfully, Pinckney is really bad. And Shurmur isn't much better
TechDawgMc
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And they do. Nice job there
Swanni
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Ok don't kill me
Swanni
Mitch Henessey
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Let's gooooooooo!!!!!!!
Doc Holliday
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Game blouses
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." ~ John Adams
hodedofome
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A win is a win, I'll take it.

Much better an ugly win like this than the TCU crapfest like last night.
BearKamp
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Hell of a Win! Sic Em!
JusHappy2BeHere
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7-6
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it--always."

Mahatma Gandhi
boognish_bear
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BUmoneymaker said:

boognish_bear said:

What's CMR's record with 4th quarter leads? It's something pretty insane


31-0


32-0 now baby!
4th and Inches
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Bears schwinn!
Adopt-a-Bear 2024

#90 COOPER LANZ ( DL )
CLASS Junior
HT/WT 6' 3", 288 lbs


#50 KAIAN ROBERTS-DAY ( DL )
CLASS Sophomore
HT/WT 6' 3", 273 lbs
boognish_bear
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Jeff Nixon just painted his masterpiece. That guy has come a loooooong way!
JusHappy2BeHere
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proud of this team... this is double the win total I was expecting at the start of the year....

Congratulations to Coach Rhule and the Baylor Bear Football Team

Sic em Texas Bowl Champions!
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it--always."

Mahatma Gandhi
boognish_bear
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Love CMR giving a shout out to last year's seniors
GoldenBear007
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Big 12 title coming in Brewer's senior year.
Dia del DougO
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Great win. Very entertaining bowl game.

Ebner is the man
SigTauBear
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Good, solid win. Something to build on.
MilliVanilli
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Great momentum for next season.

ImwithBU
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boognish_bear said:

Jeff Nixon just painted his masterpiece. That guy has come a loooooong way!


Amazing what happens when Rhule trust the guys he put in the position.

I'm back on the season ticket holder band wagon
The win didn't sell me but the emotion from CMR after the game did. He was tearing up, guess he cares a little more than I thought
vanillabryce
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Great win. Offense was explosive and creative.

Overall Im very happy with this season!
GABear78
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Great win. Great season. And let me say I was wrong on what to expect for this year. This team far exceeded my expectations and good for them.

Looking forward to what is to come.
boognish_bear
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Just think about how young we are..our ceiling is high!
Dia del DougO
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I guess I can buy a Texas Bowl shirt now. I never wore my old one.
BluesBear
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Bro is in tears because he's NFL bound.

Sound game from the team. Great effort. B12 title in reach with this group + recent recruits. Go Bears
BUmoneymaker
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GABear78 said:

Great win. Great season. And let me say I was wrong on what to expect for this year. This team far exceeded my expectations and good for them.

Looking forward to what is to come.


X2

I was way off

If someone said 7.6 with bowl win over secsecsec i would have said give me what you are on!

"I hope" -Red

"Apply yourself" -W.White

"Guys, who is Keyser Soze?" - K. Soze

"Tea. Earl Grey. Hot." -J.L. Picard
EasyE
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boognish_bear said:

Vaughn is a damn stud


How often have I read something like this about a mediocre player that torches our pathetic defense? It was the Buffalo WR, last year it was the Liberty WR, then this year we heard about how fast the former Pac12 RB playing at Abilene Christian is, and tonight it's this guy. No, it's the inept defenses we have seen over recent years.
EvilTroyAndAbed
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JusHappy2BeHere said:

proud of this team... this is double the win total I was expecting at the start of the year....
You thought we were going to win 3 1/2 games?
BellCountyBear
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Love this team, but Phil Snow still needs to retire.
whitetrash
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Not only did we win, but this was far and away the most competitive and entertaining bowl game so far.
 
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