Bailor comes into their final home game with a heart breaking loss to their biggest conference rival, TCU. Texas will enter the contest on a high note with RB Chris Warren being named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. Out for the game: LB Peter Jinkens (ACL) OG Patrick Vahe RB D'Onta Foreman RB Kirk Johnson Maybe for the game: DB Dylan Haines DT Hassan Ridgeway LB Malik Jefferson QB Jerrod Heard (will practice) RB Johnathan Gray Swoopes will start and the season will end. I had high hopes for this game a few weeks ago. I was going to do a post-game happy dance thread that would compel all doubters around the globe to exclaim, "One more year!" Sadly, I'm afraid all will now cry out, "Not one more day!" Predictions: Swoopes completes a pass Merrick is forced into the game, saving Locksley's RS Texas scores three off of two picks and a fumble Bailor wins in overtime Almost forgot... SUCK IT, BILES!
Scouting the Bears Baylor brings the most potent offense in the nation to the field as the Bears rank No. 1 in total offense and scoring offense. Baylor averages 616.0 yards per game and scores 50.8 points. In Baylor's two losses, the Bears were limited to 34 points (Oklahoma) and 21 points (at TCU). The Bears rank No. 4 in the nation in rushing offense with 291.5 yards per game. Baylor's passing game is No. 13 at 324.5 yards. Baylor is the most efficient passing team in the FBS with a QB rating of 183.96. WR Corey Coleman is one of the best in the nation. He has pulled in 20 touchdowns this season to lead the country by five TDs. His 119.5 receiving yards per game rank No. 3 in the FBS. RB Shock Linwood averages 118.0 yards per game on the ground and ranks No. 16 in the nation. Baylor allows 396.5 yards a game. The Bears average more than 8.0 tackles for loss this season to lead the Big 12 and rank sixth in the nation. Baylor will be starting its third string QB against Texas. Highlight Reel Offense Texas is one of only seven schools nationally with both a rushing and passing play of at least 84 yards this season. The Horns and TCU are the only Power Five Conference programs that can make that claim. Texas is the only Power Five Conference team with at least three plays of 84 or more yards in 2015. Only two other Power Five teams (Notre Dame and TCU) can even say they have had at least two. The Longhorns are one of only two schools nationally (Notre Dame) with two rushes of 90 or more yards. Texas has registered at least one rush and pass play of at least 84 yards this season. That has never happened before in Longhorn history. The Longhorns have posted four plays (three rush, one pass) of at least 80 yards this season, a UT first. Texas has recorded three running plays of 80 or more yards in 2015. That's the most rushes of that distance the Horns have ever posted in a season. Two of the three 80+ yard runs this season have actually gone for more than 90 yards. [Full TexasSports article]
That piece has a smalll geyser of statistics..... did anyone else reading that hear it in Mack Brown's voice?
The current seniors had their chance to make their mark on the program and, for a multitude of reasons, it didn't happen the way they wanted. With that said, they've still got a chance to leave a legacy that will last if they can give everything they've got against Baylor. It's not about doing it for themselves. It's about making the returning players understand that they can have the success they themselves were unable to achieve if they're willing to make changes to avoid another season like this one. The seniors can leave a lasting impact if one day Poona Ford and the other defensive linemen can talk about how [Desmond] Jackson's passion and intensity inspired them to give everything they had. Duke Thomas will one day be fondly remembered if Holton Hill and Davante Davis are able to talk about how the outgoing senior cornerback showed them what it meant to lay everything on the line. John Burt needs to see Daje Johnson and Marcus Johnson be selfless while playing inspired football against the Bears. Those are a few players among some tremendously talented athletes within the current group of freshmen and sophomores. In order for that talent to lead to wins, particularly the amount of victories it will take to get Strong another year further into his five-year contract, they'll have to figure out what it takes to play consistent football for four quarters on a weekly basis. Texas' ability to do that in 2016 begins how things unfold on Saturday against Baylor. [Full Horns247 article]
baylor is starting a third string quarterback and is favored by how many points? Remember when Baylor didn't win a conference game in a season?
What happened to our defense? Last year against Baylor, we forced Bryce Petty into a 7 for 22 passing day and held Baylor's offense to 7 points until halfway through the 4th quarter. Even the year before we held Baylor to 3 points at halftime in Waco. Both games the D eventually got tired from having to carry the offensive players around on their backs while also playing football themselves, but still those were some of the best defensive efforts Baylor has faced recently. Yeah, we miss Brown, Hicks, and Diggs, but that much? And now we could end up without 3 players who at least arguably are the 3 best defenders we have.... yikes.
Baylor's nicked up more than most people realize. It's not just that the Bears are down to their third string quarterback, their running back position and both safety spots are using backups. Of course, the Bears are the most talented team from a skill position standpoint in the Big 12, so it's not something that makes them overly vulnerable. But the injuries should give Texas a chance to perhaps to get off the field on defense a few times more than they would, and perhaps even establish an offensive rhythm even with Andrew Billings likely eating Taylor Doyle for lunch Saturday. I can see Texas keeping it close for a while and then the Bears pulling away. There is just too much firepower for the Bears on offense. ------------ There isn’t much of a reason to believe Texas could come away with a win in this game. The Longhorns are 0-5 on the road this season, having lost each of those games by at least three scores. Texas will also be without at least four starters with potentially even more key contributors missing snaps. Oh yeah, Baylor is good. The Bears may have lost two of three, but they’re still the No. 12 team in the country and the nation’s top offense. [Full Horns247 article]
The Good: When Baylor wants to get the tough yards they run [Shock] Linwood in behind the mammoth Laquan McGowan, a 6'7 410 lbs. tight end. On defense the Bears have shown improvement, and Travon Blanchard is quietly one of the biggest playmakers in the conference. The Baylor defensive line is big and nasty and can cause issues with Shawn Oakman or Andrew Billings up the middle. Baylor suffered two road losses this season to Oklahoma and TCU, but are nearly unbeatable by the Brazos. We should also mention the kicking game as a big plus. The Bad: While the Bears haven't suffered a high number of injuries this season, the ones they have suffered are huge impacts. Baylor is down to third string quarterback Chris Johnson. The Baylor defense is also susceptible to big plays at times and could be without a couple of key players. The Uncertain: A loss last week in Fort Worth may provide a bit of a hangover. While Baylor could still have a nice bowl ahead of them, their season goals were dashed and washed away with the rain at TCU. If Texas can put together a sterling performance coupled with a Baylor let down, they might be able to catch the Bears in a bad position. [Full HornSports article]
Texas will play Baylor without: - No. 1 RB - No. 2 RB - No. 1 RG - No. 1 MLB - No. 1 WLB - No. 1 SS - No. 1 QB - No. 1 DT
I'm going with Scottish Guy (afternoons on 104.9 Austin)... Texas 62 Baylor 3 (he always goes with that score, over anybody)
Is that for Baylor? or Texas? Bears are down to a 3rd string QB. Our only hope perhaps. Rattle. Turnovers. Missed 3rd downs. ...
