Big 12 Game Preview: Texas vs. #12 Baylor
It’s been a rough end of the season for the Baylor Bears. First they lost their starting QB Seth Russell to a season ending injury and will not be able to win the Big 12 championship. On the bright side Baylor still has a chance for 10 wins and possibly a Sugar Bowl berth if they can defeat the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns are 4-7 in a rebuilding year but have been in a rebuilding year with Charlie Strong. Texas has some bright stars in QB Jerrod Heard, stud linebacker Malik Jefferson who will not be playing in this game and RB Chris Warren. The Longhorns have a bright future and they should be back as a national powerhouse in a few years.
Baylor should have a field day on offense against a struggling Texas defense that is missing their best player. Baylor QB Chris Johnson was not good in the TCU game but the weather condition prevented anyone from making an impact. Expect Johnson to sling it around the field and bring back that Baylor offense that we saw earlier this season.
Players to Watch: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
Coleman has not been clicking with the QBs who aren’t Seth Russell, this may be the game Coleman blows up the stat sheet like he did during the first half of the year. This Texas secondary is bad, Coleman should be able to pick apart these defensive backs with ease. Him and Chris Johnson should connect on multiple deep throws. I am predicting a 175 yard and two touchdown game for Corey Coleman this week.
Jerrod Heard, QB, Texas
Texas is going to have to keep up with this high-powered Baylor offense. Jerrod Heard will need to have one of the best games in his young career to pull off this upset victory. Heard has shown flashes of brilliance in his first season as the Texas QB. Heard will have to get this offense involved early and often, that includes handing off the ball to Chris Warren who went bananas last weekend. The freshman QB has the legs to beat almost any defense on the ground but his arm will have to propel Texas to the victory this week.
Prediction
I am a huge Texas and Charlie Strong supporter but Baylor is a different beast. In a few years this game will be a lot closer, but as for this weekend I can not see Texas coming close. Baylor is favored by 20.5 points and I think they will cover that easy. Baylor 48 Texas 17