College Football: Predicting every undefeated teams first loss
By Carly Regehr
7. Baylor Bears
W-L Record: 6-0
Remaining Schedule: TCU, at Oklahoma, Kansas State, at Texas Tech, at West Virginia
They will fall victim to…
West Virginia on Dec. 3
No. 9 Baylor is having the best season of any Big 12 program. Seth Russell (1,470 yards, 16 TD, 4 INT; 302 rush yards, 5 TD) is doing Seth Russell-like things. The backfield is being lit up by no other than Terence Williams (443 yards, 7 TD). What could go wrong for the Bears?
Granted, Tornado Alley produces more offensive power than defensive units. In fact, Baylor’s rush defense is so poor that they allowed 234 rushing yards to Rice in Week 3. Their pass defense has been relatively static, but it’s not as bad. Typically, opposing quarterbacks are allowed just one touchdown and about 160 yards.
For West Virginia, though, their defense is a whole ‘nother novel…at least in Big 12 standards.
West Virginia places second in the conference in points allowed per game (19.4) behind Baylor (17.2). The Mountaineers also rank fourth in both pass (233.7) and rush (158.5) defense. Yes, the numbers are not terribly impressively. But when you limit Texas Tech, who averages over 50 points per game, to 10 points, it says something.
Being a part of the coaching staff since 2011, Dana Holgorsen has been in the AP Top 25 every year but 2013. He’s also averaged 13 wins per season with four bowl game appearances in five years. Holgorsen’s clearly the conductor in the new hype surrounding Morgantown. He’s the school’s hero…but not when it comes to Baylor.
Regardless of pounding 60-plus points down their throats every time they beat West Virginia, Baylor has no other competition this season. Oklahoma isn’t stable and TCU was MIA once the season began. That said, West Virginia’s the only viable candidate to take out Baylor. Baylor’s very aggressive on offense, but West Virginia has the players and tools to make an upset happen. On Dec. 3, Morgantown, WV, will put their attitudes on blast to drain out Jim Grobe’s squad.