NCAA football Preview: Oklahoma State Cowboys and Baylor Bears battle for Big 12 top berth
The no. 21 ranked Baylor Bears are looking to stay in first place with a victory this weekend against conference rival and no. 17 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys. Both teams are coming off of victories, and
both have seven wins each so far this season. Also, this game will see the much anticipated return of the national leading receiver, Justin Blackmon for the Cowboys.
Baylor’s season so far
For the 7-2 Bears, it is so far so good this season. Coming off a conference win last week against the Texas Longhorns, they are looking to keep control of the south division of the Big
12 Conference. They have been playing extremely well on offence, with quarterback Robert Griffin III leading the charge. The offence has scored more than 30 points in eight of nine games, giving them an average of 34.3 points per game, ranking them 23rd
in the nation in that category. Their two losses this year came against Texas Christian University (TCU) who blew out the Bears in the third game of the season, 45-10. The other came to Texas Tech, who currently sit in last place in the south division of
the Big 12.
Oklahoma State’s season so far
The 7-1 Cowboys are coming off a big win against the Kansas State Wildcats, in which Blackmon was serving his one game suspension for being charged with a misdemeanour DUI. Despite his
absence his fellow teammates, especially running back Kendall Hunter, picked up the slack.
So far this season, Hunter has rushed for 1174 yards on 189 carries, and last weekend’s 143-yard performance has him sitting in the Oklahoma State record books as it was his 18th time rushing
for over 100 yards. Quarterback Brandon Weeden has the offence rolling, averaging 343.4 yards passing per game, and averaging 45.3 points per game, giving the offence a ranking of number three in the nation in both categories.
The Cowboys lone loss this year came to no. 16 ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers, 51-41.
Keys to the game
Baylor’s record against Oklahoma State is absolutely atrocious at 1-13, with the Cowboys winning their last meeting 34-7 last season. The Bears will need to forget all about that, and
concentrate on the positives, which is that they are in first place in the division.
"The tide has changed. This year, we're the team to beat," said quarterback Robert Griffin III according to espn.go.com.
If they keep that attitude and keep on mixing up the running and passing plays, giving the Oklahoma State defence different looks, they should be successful. Nebraska proved that it is possible, and the
Bears should certainly take note of that. As for Griffin III, he is playing the best football of his college career so far, and head coach Art Briles let him know that.
"I think he's playing at the level right now that allows us to do what we need to do. That's the thing we're looking at. For what we do, he is the best quarterback in America right now. I don't think he has
to grow. He's just got to keep doing what he's doing and we'll be fine." Briles has said according to espn.go.com.
Oklahoma State has one of the top offences in the game, but they will need to expose the Baylor defence, which is ranked 52nd in the nation in the points allowed category. Welcoming back the Cowboys'
favourite receiver in Blackmon, the Bears defence will be having fits especially if Weeden uses Hunter as the play-action fake and throws to Blackmon.
"It's obvious with what (Blackmon has) done all year that it'll be nice to have him back. But on the flip side, I have confidence in all of the guys," said Weeden to espn.go.com.
Prediction
Baylor 21 – Oklahoma State 41
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