This ain't no QB that can throw a little and run a little. Much more than that, and if the rest of the country only knew...the kid is a straight up STUD.
Baylor
Coaching- New defensive coordinator (pitts dc last 3 years)
QB- Robert Griffin is a very good player. A dual threat qb with great speed. Normally when you hear dual threat you think run first, but Griffin is a good passer as well.
RB- they lose Jay Finley who was a 1,000 yard rusher, and are now a running back by committee team. Both running backs have some skills but this position will take a step back.
WR- Josh Gordon the big 12’s best deep threat averaging 17 yards a catch will be suspended for a while, more importantly game 1 against TCU. The coaches seem to be very confident in this group anyway and really like receivers Terrence Williams and Lanear Sampson. This is a very talented group with or without Josh Gordon. They lose their starting tight end, but get Stanford transfer Jordan Najvar who has some skills.
Oline- They loss a first round pick Danny Watkins but they return everyone else. This is a line that should continue to improve.
Defense- They have a new d coordinator running a new system in a 4-2-5. This is not a simple system to pick up, but they needed a change. Against quality opponents they surrendered 42.75 points per game with an average ppg difference of 15 points. They lose their top 5 tacklers.
Dline- they lose by far their best d tackle in Phil Taylor. He was a space eater, and they won’t be able to replace him. Phil Steele thinks they will improve but I don’t see it. They don’t have their space eater, and only got 21 sacks last year. They lost the guy that takes up double teams, and without a good pass rusher this d line is bad.
Linebackers- inexperienced linebackers combined with a new system, these guys could get exposed. Look for teams to pound the ball against these guys.
Defensive backs- They have a good corner in Tyler Stephenson who the coaches think has star potential. But other than that this unit could be in for some trouble. They lose a lot in the secondary especially with the loss of both safety’s and number one corner.
Special teams- big leg but inaccurate kicker in sophomore Aaron Jones. A freshman punter, and they surrendered 3 kick return tds so this unit could be in trouble.
Home field Advantage- Phil Steele gives them a 3 point home field advantage. They played 4 respectable teams at home last year and lost 3 of those games.
My pick- Baylor has a great explosive passing game, but I am not sold on their running game. The defense is bad, sad, or whatever other word you want to use. They are switching the system which is needed, but should slow down the progress of making this defense worse to start the season. Last year Baylor really struggled with TCU’s 4-2-5 defense, this year they should be more familiar with it, but there is no way Baylor’s 4-2-5 will be anywhere near as good. I am not thrilled about TCU offense and am a little nervous about the qb, but I think TCU will be able to pound the ball against the bad defense, and I think Baylor will have trouble scoring. Baylor plays in shoot outs, where they try to outscore you and I don’t think they can do that against the nation’s best defense of the last 3 years. TCU -6.5 3 units.
Nice work there! You've almost sold me on taking TCU at -5.5 at +123. -3.5 is -110.
Question? Is it worth the incremental $176.50 to risk TCU covering at 4 or 5?
$550 at -3.5 = $1,050.00
$550 at -5.5 = $1,276.50
I'd be pissed at my greed if game ends 24-20, TCU. It seems you never need the hook when you play conservatively but suddenly need it when you go aggressive.
Baylor
Coaching- New defensive coordinator (pitts dc last 3 years)
QB- Robert Griffin is a very good player. A dual threat qb with great speed. Normally when you hear dual threat you think run first, but Griffin is a good passer as well.
RB- they lose Jay Finley who was a 1,000 yard rusher, and are now a running back by committee team. Both running backs have some skills but this position will take a step back.
WR- Josh Gordon the big 12’s best deep threat averaging 17 yards a catch will be suspended for a while, more importantly game 1 against TCU. The coaches seem to be very confident in this group anyway and really like receivers Terrence Williams and Lanear Sampson. This is a very talented group with or without Josh Gordon. They lose their starting tight end, but get Stanford transfer Jordan Najvar who has some skills.
Oline- They loss a first round pick Danny Watkins but they return everyone else. This is a line that should continue to improve.
Defense- They have a new d coordinator running a new system in a 4-2-5. This is not a simple system to pick up, but they needed a change. Against quality opponents they surrendered 42.75 points per game with an average ppg difference of 15 points. They lose their top 5 tacklers.
Dline- they lose by far their best d tackle in Phil Taylor. He was a space eater, and they won’t be able to replace him. Phil Steele thinks they will improve but I don’t see it. They don’t have their space eater, and only got 21 sacks last year. They lost the guy that takes up double teams, and without a good pass rusher this d line is bad.
Linebackers- inexperienced linebackers combined with a new system, these guys could get exposed. Look for teams to pound the ball against these guys.
Defensive backs- They have a good corner in Tyler Stephenson who the coaches think has star potential. But other than that this unit could be in for some trouble. They lose a lot in the secondary especially with the loss of both safety’s and number one corner.
Special teams- big leg but inaccurate kicker in sophomore Aaron Jones. A freshman punter, and they surrendered 3 kick return tds so this unit could be in trouble.
Home field Advantage- Phil Steele gives them a 3 point home field advantage. They played 4 respectable teams at home last year and lost 3 of those games.
My pick- Baylor has a great explosive passing game, but I am not sold on their running game. The defense is bad, sad, or whatever other word you want to use. They are switching the system which is needed, but should slow down the progress of making this defense worse to start the season. Last year Baylor really struggled with TCU’s 4-2-5 defense, this year they should be more familiar with it, but there is no way Baylor’s 4-2-5 will be anywhere near as good. I am not thrilled about TCU offense and am a little nervous about the qb, but I think TCU will be able to pound the ball against the bad defense, and I think Baylor will have trouble scoring. Baylor plays in shoot outs, where they try to outscore you and I don’t think they can do that against the nation’s best defense of the last 3 years. TCU -6.5 3 units.
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