Baylor v. BYU Preview/Prediction

There is nothing sweeter than a top-25 out of conference matchup between two great teams. The Baylor Bears head to Provo, Utah to face the BYU Cougars Saturday night. BYU will look to add a top-25 win to their resume as an independent program. While the Bears are looking to defeat the Cougars for the second straight season. Here are the Baylor v. BYU preview this season leading up to Saturday!

Baylor Preview

The Bears demolished Albany 69-10 in their home-opener as they accumulated 573 yards on offense. Baylor Bears offense was led by QB Blake Shapen throwing for 214 yards, 2 TD’s, and completing 85% of his passes. Not to forget the balance on the ground game compiling for 259 yards.

The Bears defense did not regress after all the departures. Limiting Albany to 237 total yards and 5-for-17 third-down attempts. Baylor did force one fumble in last week’s blowout, but will need to prepare for a better surrounded offense.

BYU Preview

BYU beat South Florida 50-21 over the weekend as the Cougars jumped out to a quick 28-0 1st-quarter lead and never looked back. Heisman potential QB, Jaren Hall, threw for 261 yards with 2 TD’s in his back pocket. The ground attack bullied the Bulls rushing for 314 yards in the blowout victory.

With 97% of the defense returning from last season, the Cougars did not miss a beat. BYU allowed 293 total yards, 12 first downs, and forced one turnover. BYU’s victory was bittersweet because the QB for USF, Gerry Bohanon, was the starting QB for the Baylor Bears in last season’s defeat.

Baylor at BYU Odds

• ML: Baylor +130 | BYU -140 (DraftKings)
• ATS: Baylor +3 (-110) | BYU -3 (-110)
• O/U: 53.5 (O: -109 | U: -112)

2022 Betting Stats:

• ML: Baylor 1-0 | BYU 1-0
• ATS: Baylor 1-0 | BYU 1-0
• O/U: Baylor 1-0 | BYU 1-0

Prediction: BYU ML

(I grabbed this early at -118 before it spiked to the -150 range.)

I am leaning with the Cougars in this top-25 matchup between the Baylor Bears. The Cougars will be out for revenge after last year’s lost in Waco, TX to the Bears 38-24. Now between the two teams in matchups (three games) the home team has won every time. That is not hard evidence, but last year against Virginia as a -2.5 favorite, the Cougars won 66-49.

There are three reasons I like BYU v. Baylor:

1. BYU is 14-1 SU in their L15 games at home
2. BYU is 7-1 ATS in their L8 games against the Big 12 conference.
3. BYU is 7-0 SU in their L7 games played in September.

It is going to be a great one, but go Cougars for the upset!