Game Preview: Baylor Bears-Oklahoma Sooners
Baylor (4-4) at No. 12 Oklahoma (6-2)
Nov. 10, 2:30 p.m.
Owen Field (Norman, Okla.)
TV: FOX Sports Net
Line: OU -21.5
Series: OU leads, 20-1.
GAME PREVIEW
The nation’s No. 1 passing team and total offense will be in Norman Saturday and it’s not OU… Baylor leads the nation with 581.5 yards per game—392.1 of those come through the air on average… Yes, Robert Griffin III is now in the NFL, but quarterback Nick Florence is scorching opponents by completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 3,019 yards with 25 TDs and 11 INTs… He also leads the country in total offense as he has added 279 yards and 5 TDs with his feet… The offensive line has improved, allowing no sacks in the last two games after giving up 13 in the first six… The Bears’ four starting receivers have combined for 171 receptions for 2,777 yards and 21 TDs… Terrance Williams leads that pack and the nation with 71 grabs for 1,340 yards and 10 TDs… Baylor has churned out 189.4 yards per game on the ground… Glasco Martin is the leading runner with 83 carries for 468 yards and 6 TDS… The Bears also rank 6th in scoring with 43.7 points per game.
Baylor’s defense is its weakness as the Bears rank dead last nationally in total yards allowed (527.2 per game)… That breaks down to 97th in rushing defense (200.6 yards per game) and 118th in passing defense, yielding 326.6 yards per game… The Bears have allowed 39.1 points per game to rank 114th in the country in scoring defense… Linebacker Bryce Hager and nickelback Ahmad Dixon lead Baylor with 73 tackles apiece… Dixon also leads the team with 2 INTs… Ends Chris McAllister and Terrance Lloyd have 3 sacks each.
Punter Spencer Roth has averaged 43.8 yards per kick… 10 of his 22 boots have landed inside the 20-yard line, and six times he has nailed punts for 50+ yards… Levi Norwood is the Bears’ punt return specialist with 8.3 yards per return… Antwan Goodley and Darryl Stonum have combined to return 26 kickoffs for an average of 19.8 yards.
Weather will definitely be a factor with high winds expected (20-30 mph) for Saturday… This should be interesting for two teams that like to fling the ball around… It also will affect the kicking game… Working the ball on the ground will be the key… The Bears have gained 4.8 yards per run, but Oklahoma has surrendered 4 yards per carry… The Sooners hopefully have removed the kinks from opening holes last week as Brennan Clay had a career day (24 attempts for 159 yards and 1 TD) versus Iowa State, and they’ll need another top performance against da Bears… If Damien Williams (sprained ankle) is unable to go, Clay will be ready and possibly Dom Whaley will see some action… OU has gained 5.2 per carry, while Baylor has given up 4.7 per tote.
Left tackle Tyrus Thompson did a great job last week replacing Lane Johnson and protecting Landry Jones’ blind side… Johnson remains questionable for this Saturday… Jones had a great day (32 of 45 for 453 yards with 4 TDs and 2 INTs) and he was not sacked and hurried only twice.
OU’s secondary played well, but the unit wasn't consistent last weekend… Interference and holding calls amounted to 61 yards in penalties… Tony Jefferson continued to show his big play ability (9 tackles, 1 INT and 1 pass broken up), but he got away with a couple of hits leading with his helmet.
The Sooners’ defense can’t get complacent if the team gets a lead… After OU took a 35-13 lead last week, the Cyclones drove 75 yards for a touchdown and threatened with another drive, but Jefferson saved the day with his pick.
ETC.
*OU is 12-3 on November 10th, including 11 straight wins.
*BU is 4-11-1 on November 10th.
*OU and Baylor met once on November 10th, with the Sooners prevailing, 52-21, in 2007.
*Baylor has a turnover margin of +8 in its four victories and -11 in its four losses.
*OU has a turnover margin of +4 in its six wins and -4 in its two losses.
*Baylor has scored 15 TDs on drives of one minute or less; 25 in two minutes or less.
*Baylor has never been ranked coming into a meeting with Oklahoma.
*The Sooners marked a first in school history when they played Baylor in 1973. Three players rushed for more than 100 yards—Joe Washington (113), Waymon Clark (113) and Steve Davis (110) did it in a 42-14 rout of the Bears.