Get a $500 Bonus on a $500 Deposit at BetUS!

2009 Baylor College Football Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

Baylor 72409 Baylor finished the 2008 season 4-8, but that mark included a pair of narrow defeats to UConn and Mizzou and a touchdown loss to No. 7 Texas Tech. Are the Baylor Bears now ready to end their drought of 15 years without a bowl appearance? Get my take in this 2009 college football predictions article. Baylor is listed at +2,500 to win the 2009 Big 12 championship at BetUS.

Plan to do some football wagering this season? Bet your college football picks at Bookmaker to take advantage of early football lines and their special 20% cash sign up bonus.

Offense – The Baylor offense averaged a respectable 28.0 points per game in 2008 (42nd nationally) thanks to the outstanding play of dual-threat quarterback Robert Griffin. Griffin threw for 2,091 yards and 15 touchdowns against just three interceptions and added 13 scores on the ground while racking up 843 rushing yards in his freshman season. One thing is certain, teams are going to try not to let Griffin beat them so other playmakers are going to have emerge. Kendall Wright is one of those guys that could have a major impact on the Baylor offense. He is the team’s leading returning receiver, catching 50 passes for 649 yards and five scores in 2008. The running back position will be a strength with Jay Finley coming back and Houston transfer Terrence Ganaway coming in. Look for Finley to benefit from teams keying on Griffin. The result should put him over the 1,000-yard mark, which would be the first time a Baylor running back has accomplished that feat in six seasons. The offensive line has a good one in center J.D. Walton, but losing a talent like Jason Smith (no. 2 NFL draft pick) is sure to set the line back in 2008.

Defense – Like so many of the weaker teams in the Big 12, it’s Baylor’s defense which isn’t doing it any favors. The Bears ranked 87th nationally in scoring defense (29.3 yards per game allowed) and 85th in total defense (393.2 yards per game allowed). And the Bears were absolutely torched by the pass, allowing 255.3 yards per game through the air to rank 103rd in the country. While the defensive line loses two starters, it catches a break with huge 6′4”, 355-pound Penn State transfer Phil Taylor ready to step in. Head coach Art Briles absolutely loves Taylor and his ability to command double teams. The linebacker unit is solid and experienced with all three starters back. This unit is led by all-league pick Joe Pawelek. Pawelek’s best attribute is his brain and that brain of his helped him pick off six passes and record 128 tackles in 2008. The secondary is led by all-leaguer Jordan Lake. The senior free safety led the defensive backfield with 97 stops and three picks last season. The safety spot won’t be the problem across the back. It’s the cornerbacks which get beat religiously against the high-powered passing attacks in the Big 12.

Prediction: 5th Big 12 South – There is a lot of talent on Baylor’s roster with guys like Griffin, Wright, and Finley on offense and Pawelek and Lake on defense, but there isn’t enough all-around talent to contend with the Big 12 elite just yet. Making a bowl game is the goal, but the Bears must navigate a schedule which includes eight bowl teams from a year ago. The Bears may fall short of their goal, but Baylor fans are in for a treat as this figures to be an exciting, competitive football team. Baylor is listed at +1,600 to win the Big 12 South Division.

Quit guessing and start investing for guaranteed results with Jimmy Boyd’s expert football picks!

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in: