Game Info
#10 Baylor Bears vs. #6 Oklahoma State Cowboys
Saturday – November 21 – 6:30 pm CT
TV: FOX
Boone Pickens Stadium – Stillwater, Oklahoma
The Baylor Bears face their second big test this season playing the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Cowboys are undefeated in Big 12 play and 10-0 overall. The last time the Cowboys won a Big 12 title was in 2011. Both teams have a chip on their shoulders. The Bears are coming off a stunning loss to the Sooners and the Cowboys have never won a national title. Baylor has not won in Stillwater, Oklahoma since 1939.
Baylor is no longer in the College Football Playoff conversation, but they still have three very important games. If they beat the Cowboys, they could still win a Big 12 title, but the road goes straight through Stillwater.
What to look for when Baylor has the ball
Baylor continued their streak of scoring on their opening drive and expect them to open with style again. Baylor’s passing game struggled against the Sooners in the rain. Saturday’s game is expected to have a high of 46˚ and a low of 25˚.
Jarrett Stidham had 257 yards passing against OU. He will need to improve his performance if the Bears hope to win in Stillwater. The Cowboys have 24 takeaways this year. Stidham must be smart with his passes and Baylor must protect the football. If Stidham is healthy, expect rushing plays from him to open up the passing game.
Baylor doesn’t punt a lot. They punted six times against OU and with a very tough Cowboys team, they should punt 6-7 times to force the Cowboys into tough field position.
What to look for when Oklahoma State has the ball
The Cowboys like to utilize two quarterbacks throughout their games. Mason Rudolph will take most of the snaps, but they like J.W. Walsh in the wildcat formation. This could create problems for Baylor with two very different quarterbacks.
Cowboys WR James Washington had a huge game against TCU. Expect him to burn Baylor’s defense for large chunks of yardage. If Baylor hopes to contain Washington they will need to put pressure on Rudolph and make him get rid of the ball quickly.
Final Thoughts
This game will come down to field position. The team that creates turnovers and dominates on special teams will win the game.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 34 – Baylor 31
