It’s usually hyperbole when football fans stress over a single game, calling it crucial to the success of an entire season. However, this week the entire cast of Football on the 40 agrees that the Texas vs. Baylor game on Saturday (11 am on ABC) has major implications for the remainder of this season.
The Longhorns (4-3) will make the short trip up Interstate 35 to once again put this year’s road struggles to the test in Waco.
In what most avid college football fans view as a surprising success, Coach Dave Aranda comes into the matchup with his Baylor Bears at 6-1 and ranked 16th in the AP poll. This showdown with Baylor is the third consecutive game versus a ranked team for Coach Sarkisian’s Texas.
After blowing two large leads against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, the Longhorns will look to upset Baylor as underdogs this week.
Football on the 40 is a weekly podcast hosted by University of Texas alumni that takes a weekly dive into the Longhorn football season. Below are our individualized predictions for the upcoming Baylor game.
Bowen: I’m looking forward to this Saturday’s game! I really do feel like I’m going to give up hope if we lose and just book tickets to the Texas Bowl. I am optimistic as I think we’ve taken a long hard look at ourselves, and it’ll be good to see how we respond.
Texas comes into this game as 2.5 point underdogs with an over/under of 61.5 and +110 on the money line (taking Texas to win outright). Baylor has performed pretty well ATS, 5-2, besting Texas at 4-3. I like Texas to bounce back this week and end our 2-game skid. Horns take this one 35-28.
Kevin: The Longhorns are rightful underdogs in this game after a couple of dismal performances against various teams from the state of Oklahoma. So far, our team has only played well outside of Austin against a TCU team with a losing record.
The challenge before the Longhorns is significant this week. I’m concerned specifically about Baylor quarterback Gerry Bohanon’s running abilities. Bohanon has six rushing touchdowns on the season (more than your typical quarterback), and the Texas defense has had several disappointing performances guarding the run against mobile quarterbacks.
If we can’t stop the run this week, we are headed to the bottom half of the Big 12 conference. The game against Baylor is incredibly important because we follow it by visiting Iowa State on the road. Having seen the Longhorns struggle in Ames with my own two eyes, I am convinced if Texas can’t get back momentum with a win vs. Baylor, we will stay flat in Ames and drop to 4-5.
It hurts to even type that out…4-5. Please forgive me, Darrell Royal. My prediction is from the brain and not the heart. I don’t think Sarkisian was ever destined for a perfect start at Texas, but no one would have seen us losing to Baylor before the season started. My pick is for the Bears to win this one in a close game 38-35.
Jake: Coming into this game, I am certainly nervous. After witnessing all three of the Texas losses and two of the wins in person, I have seen firsthand vastly different teams show up to play.
The Longhorns of the first half against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are pretty remarkable, but the same team was dominated in both of those second halves. I need to see a complete game on the road to get hyped for the game in Ames, Iowa, next week and to continue winding down the dark path of tiebreaker scenarios needed to get Texas to the Big 12 Championship game in Arlington.
Though I would not bet money on the Longhorns this week, I will be present in McLane Stadium, and my heart still says they come out with a win. I believe in what will be a close game throughout. Texas scores late to extend a small lead. Horns win it 41-28.
Hook ‘em.
You can check out this week’s podcast here.
