College Football Preview – Baylor Bears vs. Oklahoma Sooners

Two of the three best teams in the Big 12 will meet in the most important game in the noon slot on Saturday. The No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners will look to keep their College Football Playoff hopes intact when they head to Texas to face the Baylor Bears. Oklahoma is 28-3 against Baylor all-time, and the Sooners have won seven straight games against the Bears. All three of Baylor’s victories against OU came in the span of four years during the Art Briles era, and Dave Aranda will look to become the second coach in program history to topple mighty Oklahoma.

On Saturday, November 13, 2021, the Baylor Bears will host the Oklahoma Sooners at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas. This game will kick off at 12 p.m. ET on FOX and be highlighted as the Big Noon Saturday game.

College Football Betting Odds

Oklahoma -5.5

Baylor +5.5

Total 61.5

Initially, Oklahoma was a touchdown favorite per the college football betting odds. However, we have seen bets come in on Baylor since the Sooners have struggled against many of their opponents. Five of their wins over FBS foes have come by seven points or less, so bettors jumped at the chance to take the Bears plus the points.

Baylor is unbeaten at home this season with wins over Iowa State, BYU, and Texas to its credit. The Bears suffered a disappointing road loss to TCU last week though, potentially submarining their conference title hopes. A loss on Saturday would be their third defeat in Big 12 play and make it very hard for the Bears to reach the Big 12 Championship Game.

When Oklahoma Has the Ball

The Sooners have been much better on offense since preseason Heisman Trophy favorite Spencer Rattler was benched in favor of Caleb Williams. Williams hasn’t been nearly as mistake prone as Rattler, and he is completing 71.6% of his passes for 10.9 YPA with 14 touchdowns and an interception. He is a much more dangerous runner too, averaging 9.3 YPC.

Kennedy Brooks should surpass 1,000 yards on the ground this season. Brooks currently has 802 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 6.1 YPC. Marvin Mims is the top receiver with 26 receptions for 605 yards and four scores as the big play threat in this offense.

Baylor’s defense ranks 19^th in SP+. Aranda is a defensive genius, and that has the Bears conceding just 22.2 PPG and 3.6 YPC on the ground. However, the Bears can be beat through the air, as they are allowing 252.5 YPG in the passing game.

When Baylor Has the Ball

Gerry Bohanon is having a fine season under center for Baylor. He is completing 65% of his passes for 8.8 YPA with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. Bohanon isn’t the greatest runner, but he can move around and avoid pressure in the pocket, as he has been sacked just six times through nine games.

The Bears boast one of the best run games in the country. Abram Smith has already eclipsed 1,000 yards and has 11 touchdowns while averaging 7.3 YPC. Trestan Ebner is averaging 5.9 YPC as the primary backup to Smith.

Oklahoma can stop the run, but the Sooners have not been good at shutting down opposing quarterbacks. They are allowing 8.8 YPA and 291.6 YPG in pass defense, ranking as one of the worst teams nationally in this regard.

Prediction

This will be a classic Big 12 game with both teams going back and forth, but Oklahoma will prevail and cover the number at the end of the day.

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