Baylor Bears
2010 record: 7-6 overall, 4-4 conference
2010 Bowl Game: 38-14 loss to Illinois in the Texas Bowl
2010 ATS: 5-8
2010 O/U: 8-5
Returning starters: 13 total (8 on offense, 5 on defense)
Over the month of August, our team of writers will be previewing the top teams heading into an exciting 2011 campaign. The college football handicappers at Maddux Sports are also preparing and have season-long packages readily available for clients. The temperatures are soaring in Dallas, Texas as we focus on the fourth year of Art Briles at Baylor.
Offense
Led by junior quarterback Robert Griffin III, the unit re-wrote the school record book in 2010, establishing a total of 55 offensive records set or tied. Among those records are total offensive yards (6,179) and passing yards (3,649).
Griffin earned All-Big 12 honors in 2010 and put together a terrific year just a season removed from a knee injury. He’s a dual threat that opposing defense worry about during Baylor week.
He will be protected by an offensive line that has each player boasting starting experience, led by third-year starter Philip Blake at center. He has started all 25 games since transferring to the school, including all 13 last year.
A deep backfield will keep opposing defenses honest, but someone will need to fill the big shoes left by the departure of honorable mention All-American Jay Finley, who broke the school’s single-season rushing record.
The logical choice is fourth-year junior Jarred Salubi, but senior Terrance Ganaway could see significant playing time in short yardage situations.
Five members of the receiving core caught at least 42 balls last year and will be led by Biletnikoff Award candidate Kendall Wright, who is the school’s career receptions leader. Tevin Reese on the opposite side is no slouch and is the quickest of the two starters, coming off 45-catch campaign.
Defense
First-year defensive coordinator Phil Bennett is a native of Texas and comes to campus after serving as interim head coach at Pittsburgh in its bowl victory last season. He will have five returning starters and 23 returning lettermen by his side.
Scoring 31.2 points a game on offense may seem like a lot of points, but not when your stop unit is giving up 30.5. If the program is to take the next step, the defense must improve in Waco.
The top five tacklers from last year’s defense is gone, but senior Elliot Coffey returns as a building block, with 34 career games of experience.
This year’s results will hinge on the performance of the secondary in the 4-2-5 defensive scheme. A dangerous proposition for a unit that was led by a linebacker with two interceptions in 2010.
Special Teams
Lou Groza Award candidate Aaron Jones will handle the field goal and PAT responsibilities, a year after earning All-Big 12 and Freshman All-America honors. He set a school record by scoring 103 points last year.
Four-year starting punter Derek Epperson is gone and the duty is likely to be handed over to incoming freshman Spencer Roth.
Decisions are still up in the air in regards to the return game, but junior wide receiver Terrance Williams is the most experience option.
Against the Spread
It will be interesting to see if the lines makers make another adjustment on this team heading into the home opener against TCU. Baylor failed to cover the spread in its last four games last year.
Bet On
A Week 3 meeting against Rice is certainly one of the more advantageous games for the offense to score points, while the team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings.
Fade Away
The Bears face a massive test in the opener and one that many will be watching closely. Bettors will find the team 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings against the boys from Fort Worth.
