By Jason Fleck
This week’s Big 12 game of the week will match up No.25 Baylor Bears against the No. 9 West Virginia Mountaineers. It will be another week where both teams will be opening up their Big 12 seasons against each other. In this game everybody will be talking about the two quarterbacks who both are associated to the Heisman in different ways. Nick Florence is taking on the task of living up Robert Griffin’s 2011 campaign, not only did he win the Baylor’s first ever Heisman trophy but he also put Baylor on the map for football. Florence has so far lived up to the expectations with a 3-0 start this season which includes a win over the Louisiana-Monroe team that upset the then No. 8 Arkansas razorbacks. In just three games Florence has passed for over 1,000 yards with 11 TDs. West Virginia will be starting star quarterback Geno Smith who so far this season is seen as the Heisman favorite also passing for over 1,000 and throwing 14TDs. It is always hard living up to the Heisman talks, but with a big game this weekend against No. 25 Baylor could definitely help his case.
Both teams are off to 3-0 starts and have had no real problems getting to that point. This week is looking to be an offensive shootout, matching up two teams that know how to put points on the board and also struggle with keeping opposing teams from doing the same. Baylor will bring their No. 5 ranked offense scoring an average of 51 points per game while West Virginia has the No. 10 ranked offense scoring 47 points a game. With both teams allowing over 22 points a game, it is looking as though this game will be won by the team whose defense can get the most stops against the others’ potent offense. Now this is the new look Big 12, so there is definitely no telling what this game will bring.
#25 BAYLOR vs #9 WEST VIRGINIA
SAT. SEPT. 29 – 11AM / FX
MOUNTAINEER STADIUM