Baylor Bears 2021 College Football Preview

Baylor Bears 2021 College Football Preview

Created July 21, 2021

2020 Recap

Record – 2-7

ATS – 3-6

The Bears struggled during the plandemic season and were only able to bag a pair of wins, both over teams from the GREAT STATE of Kansas. They finished up by losing their last couple of games to teams from the GREAT STATE of Oklahoma by a combined score of 69-17. It was an unusual year and it was Dave Aranda’s first season as HC, so it’s probably best to toss that season in the TRASH CAN OF HISTORY and move on to 2021.


Baylor Bears 2021 Outlook

OFFENSE

The Bears had the 2nd worst offense in the Big 12 LY (Kansas) and managed a measly 90 YPG on the ground (#123 FBS). The Bears bring in OC Jeff Grimes who did good things at BYU (a little help from Zach Wilson) and has a lot of work to do. Starting QB Charlie Brewer is off to Utah and it’ll be up to one of last year’s backups (Gerry Bohanon, Jacob Zeno) to run with the starting gig. It’s unclear how much upside either of those young men have. The RBs underwhelmed LY, largely due to horrid OL play, and they return two of their top-three RBs in Trestan Ebner (299 rec Y) and Craig Williams (7.6, 2 TD). The weapons in the THROW GAME are solid and they return #1 WR RJ Sneed (39-497, 12.7, 3 TD) and the majority of the WR group. Don’t sleep on TE Ben Sims (11.7, 3 TD). The Bears OL struggled supporting the run and the Bears finished #9 in the Big 12 in sacks allowed per game. They bring back 90+ career starts and note that they picked up a PAIR of solid transfers in Grant Miller (Vanderbilt) and Jacob Gall (Buffalo). Both of those guys could start. The offense will improve this year and the ceiling will be determined by the QB play. Stay tuned, yo.

DEFENSE

Baylor was a bit soft vs the run LY (#82 FBS run D, #8 Big 12) and avg vs the pass (#5 Big 12 pass efficiency D, 12-12 TD to INT). Almost everyone that recorded a tackle is back this year and improvement should be expected. They have decent size up front and made a yuuuge (literally) addition in NT Apu Ika (LSU, 6-4, 350), but they’ll need to find a replacement for leading sack man DE William Bradley-King (T1, 3.5 sacks). The Bears return their excellent LB/S Jalen Pitre (#1 tackles, #1 TFL LY), LB Terrel Bernard (#1 tackles 2019, Inj LY), and a deep and experienced secondary. We expect a lot of improvement from this stop unit, and it could be really good if they can get a consistent pass rush (19 sacks LY, 46 in 2019).

SPECIAL TEAMS

There’s continuity in the kicking game but recall that PK John Mayers was just 3-8 from 40+ LY and P Issac Power had a 36.3 net. Trestan Ebner averaged 32 yards a pop in 2020 and took TWO back to the HIZZY JIZZY.

Schedule Analysis

Overall – They’re a virtual 89 STAR VACCINE SIDE EFFECT LOCK OF THE YEAR to begin the campaign at 3-0 (Texas St, Texas Southern, Kansas) before things get real. BYU is a nasty non-conference draw.

Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nothing heinous noted.

Season Win Total

per 5Dimes July 21

Over – 5.5 +100

Under – 5.5 -120

MEGALOCKS says:

Lean: Over.

This looks like a much improved squad and we peg them for 6-7 wins.

MEGAmazing Tidbit

The Bears have one Heisman Trophy winner (QB Robert Griffin III, 2011) and one former player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (LB Mike Singletary, 1998 induction).


MEGALOCKS Outlook:

The win-loss record was a bit UNSEEMLY last year but three of their seven losses were by a TD or less. They appear to be at least a year away from contending for the Big 12 Championship again but should be a tough out given the improvement we forecast on defense. 


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