The Baylor Bears have been the doormat of the Big 12 South for quite sometime. This season they hope to make a statement that the program is ready to turn the corner in 2010. Art Briles was brought in to resurrect the Bears, but has posted back to back 4-8 records the past two seasons. Star quarterback Robert Griffin returns from a serious injury to give Baylor their best shot at a bowl game in over 15 years. Baylor is +1500 to win the South. View the full conference breakdown in our 2010 Big 12 college football predictions article.
The offense is built around Robert Griffin at quarterback. Griffin came to Baylor on a track scholarship and earned All-American honors in that arena. His natural instincts on the football field as a true freshman resulted in 28 total touchdowns after taking over in the first game of 2008. That opened a lot of eyes throughout the country. His second year didn't go exactly as planned after a hot start saw him throw for 481 yards and four touchdowns in two games. Baylor was never the same following the season ending injury to their star. Nick Florence filled in as best as he could given the circumstances, but his six tds/nine interceptions doesn't cut it. Baylor used a stable of running backs in 2009, but Jay Finley will likely be the starter this year. He was plagued by the injury bug also and only managed 370 yards rushing. Terrance Ganaway led the team with five rushing touchdowns. There should be more room to roam with a much bigger threat in the passing game. WR Kendall Wright will be the top option at receiver once again after leading the team with 66 receptions last season. Lanear Sampson had a productive freshman season and will look to build on the 29 receptions he collected. The offensive line is full of potential, but most of the players on this unit are unproven. Their quarterback is gifted enough to make a play when protection breaks down so the 31 sacks allowed in 09' should be drastically reduced.
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Baylor has never been known for their defensive prowess, but the 27.3 points/game they allowed in 2009 was their best effort in four years. Five starters are back from a squad that struggled to stop the run, giving up almost 180 yards/game on the ground. Their pass defense was respectable considering how much they sling it in the Big 12 South, allowing 227 yards/game threw the air. The defensive line will be anchored literally by NG Phil Taylor. The Penn State transfer takes up a lot of space in the middle, but his production has lagged behind. This group will need to play much better as a whole if the Bears want to reach a bowl game. Antonio Johnson brings experience at linebacker as a two year starter. He is the teams top returning tackler with 77 stops and will be one of the leaders on the defensive side of the ball. The secondary is full of question marks with an infusion of young talented players likely to see immediate action. Prince Kent and Tyler Stephenson were co veted recruits that chose Baylor and could be starters from Day 1. Special teams should improve this season, with P Derek Epperson returning. K Ben Parks will handle the field goal kicking duties.
The Bears have one of the more unique schedules in the country. They will leave the state of Texas a total of two times (Oklahoma State and Colorado) and play a neutral site game with Texas Tech in Dallas. Three of their four non-conference games should end in the win column with a tough test at TCU likely being their only defeat. Winning three more games in the Big 12 will get them bowl eligible and likely an invitation for the first time since 1994. I believe Baylor will end with a 6-6 record
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