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Head coach Art Briles has transformed Baylor into an annual Big 12 title contender and the Bears are a stacked team with another conference championship and a College Football Playoff berth in their sights.
Seth Russell is next in line at quarterback and the supporting cast is among the best in the nation with a deep receiving corps and solid offensive line. Expect plenty of points from the Bears once again.
2015 SCHEDULE
9/4: at SMU
9/12: vs. Lamar
9/26: vs. Rice
10/3: at Texas Tech
10/10: at Kansas
10/17: vs. West Virginia
10/24: vs. Iowa State
11/5: at Kansas State
11/14: vs. Oklahoma
11/21: at Oklahoma State
11/27: at TCU
12/5: vs. Texas
Baylor and TCU are the class of the Big 12 once again and the Bears likely need to win out to assure a playoff spot. With non-conference games against SMU, Lamar and Rice their schedule is the biggest threat to Baylor’s College Football Playoff hopes. Can they go undefeated and get their playoff berth or will they leave it up to chance again by losing either to Oklahoma, at Oklahoma State or at TCU?
SEASON WIN TOTAL
The Bears should roll through their non-conference schedule, and Texas Tech and Kansas will offer little resistance in the first two Big 12 games. West Virginia will provide the biggest test to date but the rebuilding Mountaineers should be handled. The meat of the schedule comes over the final five weeks with a trip to Fort Worth likely deciding the Big 12 champion. With three of those final five on the road, I can see Baylor losing twice, with a defeat at TCU in a game that decides the Big 12 champion.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
The departure of Bryce Petty leaves big shoes to fill, but head coach Art Briles has proven he can plug in new quarterbacks without any setbacks. If Nick Florence can replace Robert Griffin III and the Bears still rack up yards, Seth Russell should have little trouble keeping the offense humming. “He’s shown the ability to help our football team win with his feet and with his arm and with his intelligence,” Briles said of Russell, who’s more of a running threat than Petty.
All Big-12 running back Shock Linwood could improve on his 1,252 yards and 16 touchdowns from last season scampering behind an offensive line that returns intact. All-America left tackle Spencer Drango anchors the unit and with the return of two 1,000-yard receivers, should ease the transition to a new quarterback.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Baylor’s defense improved dramatically by keeping end Shawn Oakman in the mix for another year. The All-American and All-Big 12 pick set the school season record with 11 sacks and was just shy of another mark with 19.5 tackles for loss. Along with Andrew Billings and Beau Blackshear, the Bears might have the most imposing defensive line in the country.
Linebacker Taylor Young had a dominant season as a freshman in 2014 and leads a group of physical, athletic players at that position. Easily the most scrutinized area is the secondary, where all four starters return. The group wasn’t particularly strong last season but another year working together in the system should promote improvement. Also the depth is better than it’s ever been in that area.
SEASON PREDICTION
Art Briles has created a monster in Waco and the Bears, along with TCU, are the team to beat in the Big 12. Baylor returns 18 starters but will be led by a new quarterback in Seth Russell. Briles has made the transition to a new signal-caller smooth in the past and he’ll have to do it once again. While the offense has led the charge in Baylor’s meteoric rise and back-to-back Big 12 titles, the 2015 team will have to count on an experienced defense being dominant.
While there is some value with Baylor at +1861 to win the national championship, you’re counting on them winning at TCU to get into the CFP – that’s if they get that far without losing to K-State, Oklahoma or Oklahoma State in the three weeks prior. As much as I like Baylor, it’s hard to see them winning at TCU.
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