Kansas @ Baylor preview
Floyd Casey Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 13, 2007 ) Baylor 10, Kansas 58
It’s been four years since Baylor opened Big 12 Conference play with a victory.
The Bears host Kansas this week and are in their best position to change the recent trend.
After all, Baylor (3-1) is off to a solid start the Jayhawks (2-2) have been inconsistent in their first year under Turner Gill.
Baylor third-year coach Art Briles has yet to face Kansas while with the Bears, although his Houston squad lost to the Jayhawks in the 2005 Fort Worth Bowl.
Last week, Baylor cruised to a 30-13 victory over Rice, rebounding nicely from a 45-10 loss to TCU the week before.
Baylor sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin III passed for 268 yards and three touchdowns against Rice. He finished 20 of 28 with one interception and also rushed for 50 yards.
Junior wide receiver Kendall Wright had seven receptions last week, extending his streak to 28 consecutive games with at least one reception.
Defensively, the Bears have struggled against the run this season, allowing 158.2 yards a game on the ground. They have allowed 185.2 passing yards per game.
Baylor could be without cornerback Clifton Odom, who missed last week’s game with an ankle injury.
Kansas, meanwhile, is looking to win its fourth consecutive Big 12 opener. But the Jayhawks have lost their past six Big 12 road games, dating to 2008.
Last week, Kansas rolled to a 42-16 victory over New Mexico State. KU has also defeated then-No. 15 Georgia Tech this season, but has two mind-boggling losses to North Dakota State and Southern Miss.
The Jayhawks finally seemed to find a running game, finishing with 237 rushing yards against New Mexico State. Freshman running back James Sims had 115 yards on 16 carries, including two scoring runs. Sophomore D.J. Beshears also rushed for two scores and added a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Kansas may have found its quarterback in freshman Jordan Webb, who threw for a season-high 249 yards and one touchdown. Webb had been battling Kale Pick for the job, but Pick is out for at least three weeks after suffering a leg injury.
Defensively, senior linebacker Justin Springer has stepped up for the Jayhawks. He leads the team with 34 tackles, including eight last week.
Finally, this is the 10th meeting between Baylor and Kansas. The Bears lead the series 5-4.
Kansas won the last game back in 2007, cruising to a 58-10 victory in Lawrence. But, the last time the teams met in Waco, Baylor rallied from an 18-point deficit and pulled out a wild 36-35 victory in 2006.