Oklahoma-Baylor: What to Watch

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

Baylor is the ultimate Big 12 team from an outside perspective: wide-spread, high-scoring passing offense; defense that cannot stop anyone.

Fortunately for the Sooners, Baylor being scheduled before WVU and OSU ends up working out perfectly for OU.

Five things to watch today:

1. Return game

Baylor is pretty bad on both punt and kickoff coverage. Teams are starting to kick away from Justin Brown, but he could get a return off the Baylor coverage team. OU is again facing a team with a weak kickoff coverage team. Hopefully, OU won't be seeing that team very often.

2. Brennan Clay

Damien Williams has practiced this week, but it would not be a surprise if OU held him back for the WVU game. If Williams does not play, can Brennan Clay run with the kind of authority, speed and power that he showed in Ames? Baylor's run defense is awful and could be gashed for some big-time plays.

3. Getting the passing game going

Baylor's pass defense is awful as well. Landry Jones was really in sync last week with his wide receiver corps, spreading the ball around.

OU's passing could use another game to get in sync before WVU. WVU is just awful in defending the pass.

4. Passing defense

OU's passing defense looked shaky at times versus Iowa State and had a bad game against Notre Dame. Aaron Colvin isn' t playing very well right now.

Baylor will be the best passing game that OU has faced since Texas Tech. It's a nice warm-up prep game for both WVU and OSU coming up.

5. Defensive line

Keep an eye on the pressure from the front four and how often OU can cause pressure without blitzing. OU did not get great pressure against ISU. In fact, the front four has been in a mini-slump since the Texas game. Again, with better passing teams in WVU and OSU ahead, it would be ideal if the OU front four started showing signs of a pass rush.