College Football Preview: Baylor Bears

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Sep 12, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Seth Russell (17) passes against the Lamar Cardinals at McLane Stadium. Baylor won 66-31.Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /

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Predictions

Roll back the clock to pre-Signing Day in February and you would make a convincing case of Baylor being top 10 material along with a legitimate case for the Bears being possible Big 12 champions. That’s what an NCAA investigation will do to a program. It has cost the Bears their head coach of the past few seasons in Briles, it’s athletic director, the University’s President, key recruits, and important players already established on the roster.

The current talent on the roster is still good enough to win a number of games in 2016 but Baylor has dropped from a top-tier team in college football to a team that is barely knocking on the door of the top 25. Important games of note include September 24th at home against Oklahoma State, November 5th at home against TCU, November 12th at Oklahoma, and December 3rd at West Virginia. If Russell, Cannon, Linwood, and Jefferson stay healthy and produce, and the offensive line builds consistency, Baylor will produce points by the boatload. Defensive coordinator Phil Bennett will also have to turn his defensive unit into a bunch of turnover-hungry ball players as the offense is clearly the better unit of the two.

Prediction: 8-4, 4th in the Big 12 Conference

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