EDITORIAL BY GRAYDON FOX

Overview:

On Saturday, October 13^th, the (4-2) Baylor Bears will be on the road to take on the (5-1) Texas Longhorns.

The Crowd:

The Crowd projects a final score of Texas 36.3 – Baylor 23.1 with an over/under of 59.4.

Lou Holtz and Mark May:

Lou is predicting a final score of Texas 42 – Baylor 24.

Mark is predicting a final score of Texas 38 – Baylor 29.

2018-19 Statistics (130 total teams):

Passing offense: Baylor 325.5 YPG > Texas 256.8 YPG

Rushing offense: Baylor 174.0 YPG > Texas 157.2 YPG

Scoring offense: Baylor 35.8 PPG > Texas 32.0 PPG

Scoring defense: Texas 24.0 PPG > Baylor 32.3 PPG

Passing defense: Baylor 217.8 YPG > Texas 233.5 YPG

Rushing defense: Texas 132.5 YPG > Baylor 193.2 YPG

Turnover Margin Per Game: Texas +0.8 > Baylor -0.4

Summary:

Baylor is (4-2) to start the season with wins over Abilene-Christian, UTSA, Kansas, and Kansas State.  They were defeated by Duke and handily by #6 Oklahoma.  The Bears rank 37^th in points per game (35.8) and 96^th in scoring defense (32.3 PPG).  Quarterback Charlie Brewer has completed 64% of his passes for 1,558 yards with 9 touchdowns to 2 interceptions.  Brewer also leads the team in rushing touchdowns with four.  Baylor has two dangerous receivers in Jalen Hurd and Denzel Mims that have combined for 999 yards and 6 touchdowns.  The Bears’ defense ranks 51^st against the pass (217.8 YPG) and 98^th against the run (193.2 YPG).  Baylor also ranks 89^th in turnover margin (-0.4).

Texas is (5-1) with victories over Tulsa, #22 USC, #17 TCU, Kansas State, and #6 Oklahoma.  Their lone defeat was the shocking 34-29 home upset by the Maryland Terrapins in week one.  Texas put up 500 yards of offense and forced 3 turnovers in their 48-45 upset of Oklahoma last week.  The Longhorns rank 54^th in points per game (32.0) and 45^th in scoring defense (24.0 PPG).  Quarterback Sam Ehlinger has completed 65% of his passes for 1,499 yards with 11 touchdowns to 2 interceptions.  Texas has struggled to run the football all season and are averaging a measly 3.9 yards per rush.  Texas has a pair of game-breaking receivers in Lil’Jordan Humphrey (535 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Collin Johnson (431 yards, 4 touchdowns).  The Longhorns’ defense ranks 82^nd against the pass (233.5 YPG) and 45^th against the run (132.8 YPG).  Texas ranks 19^th in the nation in turnover margin (+0.8).

Bottom Line:

Texas Head Coach Tom Herman has his team rolling with five straight wins including three against ranked teams.  The Longhorns’ inability to run the football is cause for concern but Baylor’s defense is not exactly the second coming of the “Steel Curtain”.  Ehlinger will take care of the football and make enough plays for Texas to win at home.

Texas wins 38-28

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