NCAA Big 12 Football Vegas Odds: Texas and Baylor Matchup
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
by BetOnline Sportsbook
The Texas Longhorns and the Baylor Bears can’t win the Big 12. They can, however, end the Big 12 season on a very promising note and improve their bowl prospects this weekend.
- Texas Longhorns @ Baylor Bears
- Saturday, December 3
- NCAA Big 12 Football Vegas Odds: Baylor -3
Why Texas Will Win
The Bet Online Sportsbook college football betting experts who are following the Big 12 Conference have to deal with different rhythms this season. The Big 12 was created in 1996 and instituted a championship game in its very first season. With 12 teams, the Big 12 formed two six-team divisions and put the winners in a winner-take-all battle for a BCS bowl berth. Now, with only 10 teams as a result of conference realignment, the Big 12 has reverted to a more traditional model in which there is no conference championship game and simply one race to the top, sans divisions.
Texas and Baylor, in past years, would have been sitting home this weekend while the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State winner played Kansas State for the league title. This year, the Longhorns and Bears are playing their 12th and final regular-season game on the first weekend of December. The Big 12 wants its teams to play this weekend so that they receive adequate publicity and are not drowned out by the championship games being staged in the Big Ten, the ACC, the Southeastern Conference, and the Pac-12.
Because of this dynamic, Texas can build momentum heading into its bowl game. The Longhorns typically finished their season on Thanksgiving against Texas A&M, but because of this follow-up game versus Baylor, the Longhorns now have a chance to use the A&M game as something of an emotional springboard. Texas should be very confident now that it has survived the challenge of the Aggies before A&M heads to the SEC in 2012. This factor can’t be discounted in the buildup to kickoff.
The other reason why Texas should be seen as the favorite in this game is that Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III was knocked out of the Nov. 26 game against Texas Tech with a concussion. If he can’t play, Baylor simply won’t win.
Why Baylor Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your college football bet on this game, you know that the current absence of a betting line is due to Robert Griffin’s questionable health status. If Griffin plays in this game and can be effective, the Bears have a lot more offensive weaponry than Texas. Admittedly, you might think Texas should be favored if Griffin is still out.
However, Baylor might be able to win this game anyway with backup quarterback Nick Florence. Baylor rolled to a 66-point total and a comfortable win over Texas Tech with Florence manning the controls throughout the second half. Baylor has elite receivers such as Kendall Wright who will be too much for the Texas secondary.
Who Will Win
It’s a tough call. Griffin will probably not play, but that’s not a confirmed report; it’s only a hunch. However, if Griffin can’t play, Texas has the defense which can clamp down on the Bears. Take Texas, assuming Griffin doesn’t play.
Bet Online Sportsbook College Football Betting Pick: Texas
Related Articles
- Bodog NCAA Football Odds: Texas Longhorns vs Baylor Bears
- NCAA Betting Picks: Baylor Bears and Texas Longhorns
- College Basketball Vegas Odds: Texas Longhorns at Baylor Bears
- Valero Alamo Bowl Prediction: Washington Huskies vs Baylor Bears
- Valero Alamo Bowl Prediction: Washington Huskies vs Baylor Bears
Category
Tags
baylor bears - nick florence - robert griffin iii - texas longhorns
