Oklahoma vs. Baylor Preview
WACO, TX – Oklahoma could play for a berth in the Big 12 championship game in its regular-season finale, but must first overcome another key injury and win on the road for the first time in a year.
Wins against Baylor certainly haven’t been hard to come by for the Sooners.
No. 16 Oklahoma will try to remain alive in the conference title chase by continuing its dominance of the Bears on Saturday night.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made Oklahoma –7.5 point spread favorites for Saturday’s game against Baylor. Current NCAA Public Betting Information shows that 80% of more than 1,497 bets for this game have been placed on Oklahoma –7.5.
The Sooners (8-2, 4-2) are tied with 18th-ranked Texas A&M for second in the Big 12 South, one game back of No. 12 Oklahoma State with two games remaining.
Oklahoma closes the regular season with a visit to the Cowboys next week with the winner possibly gaining a berth in the conference title game Dec. 4.
Before that, the Sooners will need to end a four-game road losing streak dating to a win over then-No. 24 Kansas on Oct. 24, 2009. They’ve lost both games as visitors this season, falling to then-18th-ranked Missouri and the Aggies.
Fortunately for Oklahoma, it’s never lost to Baylor (7-4, 4-3) – anywhere.
The Sooners have won all 19 meetings with the Bears – eight in Waco, including a 49-17 victory in the most recent meeting there in October 2008. They won last season’s matchup 33-7 at home in October and have won seven of the last eight by at least 26 points.
“It’s all mental on the road. We have to have that edge from the get-go,” running back DeMarco Murray said.
This meeting with Baylor may be more challenging after defensive tackle Adrian Taylor was lost for the season when he tore his right Achilles’ tendon during a 45-7 win over Texas Tech last week. Oklahoma was already thin at that position, with Casey Walker and Daniel Noble both out injured.
“We’ve got to just bite down and finish out the season,” said Pryce Macon, a defensive end who’s been moved inside because of the injuries.
Walker might be available Saturday after missing six straight games.
Defense has been the biggest problem on the road for the Sooners, who have allowed 69 points in two away losses.
“We’ve got to dig out a win,” receiver Ryan Broyles said. “The road games aren’t easy, but we’re capable of making plays. We’ve just got to be poised and come out with a win.”
Broyles will likely play a hand in that. The senior became Oklahoma’s all-time leader with 229 catches and 32 receiving touchdowns after he had eight receptions for 119 yards and three scores against the Red Raiders.
Broyles’ 94 catches this season lead the nation and are a team record.
“I’ve said everything you can say about Ryan,” coach Bob Stoops said. “He just has a knack for adjusting to the football like nobody I’ve ever seen, finding the ball and turning for it, and he’s got the surest hands of anybody I’ve been around. He just has a great knack for making big plays and consistent, tough plays.”
Landry Jones is also coming off an outstanding performance. The sophomore completed 22 of 29 passes for 317 yards and five touchdowns last week. However, he’s thrown five TDs with nine interceptions in the last four road games.
Broyles was limited to two catches for 18 yards at Baylor in 2008.
The Bears are concluding their regular season hoping to spoil Oklahoma’s.
“We’re going to fight to the finish and try to claw out a really good win against a really good football team,” coach Art Briles said.
Although Baylor has lost two straight, it still has its first seven-win season since going 7-4 in 1995. An upset of Oklahoma would give the Bears eight wins for the first time since 1991.
That eighth win nearly came Saturday but Baylor squandered a 16-point, first-half lead by giving up 28 unanswered points in a 43-30 loss to Texas A&M.
“It (makes) you feel sick, empty, embarrassed, ashamed and disappointed,” Briles.
Offensively, the Bears are led by Robert Griffin, who completes 66.8 percent of his passes to rank third in the conference with 3,071 passing yards, 20 TDs and six interceptions.
The sophomore is also a threat on the ground, gaining 508 yards with eight touchdowns. He had 212 passing yards while adding 92 rushing with a score against the Aggies.
Griffin’s rushing ability was on display against the then-top-ranked Sooners in 2008, gaining 102 yards with two touchdowns on 21 carries.