College Football Futures: Head coach Art Briles enters his seventh season at the helm of the Baylor Bears with the well-deserved reputation of being a miracle worker. Briles took over a team that was considered unworthy of membership in the Big 12 Conference and took them to the championship of that league last year. The Bears have bowled four seasons in a row after missing the post season from 1995-2009. With record-setting QB Bryce Petty back the Bears will be a favorite to contend for another Big 12 title. Baylor opened as a 30/1 choice to win the 2014 BCS national championship with an over under win total of 9.5 -125. The Bears were an 11/4 choice to win the Big 12 Conference.
A New Lair for Bears
Part of the Briles miracle work has been making Baylor such an attractive team that they required a brand new state of the art facility to call home. The Bears will move into new McLane Stadium this year. Petty threw for 4200 yards last season with an insane 32/3 TD/INT ratio and is a top shelf Heisman candidate. WR Antwan Goodley returns after catching 71 passes for 1339 yards and 13 TD’s last year.
Handicapper’s Notes
Baylor has covered the spread in 26 out of their last 38 games overall. The Bears have paid out in 8 of their last 11 non-conference games and are 18-8 ATS when coming off a straight up win.
Our Prognosis
Baylor returns just 4 starters to a defense that dramatically improve to cut 14 points per game allowed off their total from the previous season and that lack of experience is what holds us back from going “all in” on the Bears for 2014.
