Oklahoma vs. Baylor: Bears Will Pass First Real Test of Season

Baylor's offense has been amazing this college football season. The Bears have been especially impressive at home, where Baylor has not scored less than 69 points in any of its home wins this season.

With that in mind, the sixth-ranked and undefeated Bears will host 10th-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday.

The Sooners defense will be the biggest test for the Bears this season. Oklahoma is only allowing 18.8 points per game, but the Sooners haven't faced an attack like that of Baylor yet this season. No defense is going to shut down the Bears.

Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk has rushed for 869 yards and 11 touchdowns in seven games this season. While Seastrunk gets quite a bit of attention, quarterback Bryce Petty has executed head coach Art Briles' offense like a well-oiled machine.

Petty has thrown for 2,453 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2013. Despite throwing 176 times, Petty has only been picked off once to give him an astronomical quarterback rating of 219.0.

The numbers for Baylor are quite impressive, but the fact is that the Bears have not really faced any stiff competition. None of Baylor's previous opponents have been ranked, so it is easy to understand how critics may doubt if its offense will translate against a Top 10 team.

Though Petty isn't former Baylor star quarterback Robert Griffin III, Briles' offense is proven and Petty has a plethora of legitimate weapons at the skills position. Aside from Seastrunk, Shock Linwood and Glasco Martin have teamed together to form one of the best backfields in the country.

Antwan Goodley and Tevin Reece have 38 and 33 receptions, respectively. Both have also gone over 800 yards in receiving. The balance in the Bears' offense will shine against any team. 

Even with Baylor's talent at the skills positions, this game will be determined at the line of scrimmage. The Sooners pass rush hasn't been stellar this season and Oklahoma only ranks 82nd in the nation in sacks with 14. 

Baylor's offensive line has allowed just eight sacks this season, meaning that Petty's protection should hold up, allowing him to put a lot of pressure on the Sooners secondary.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma's run defense, which is ranked 27th in the nation, has the unenviable task of containing Seastrunk and Co. That isn't very encouraging news for the Sooners heading into Waco, Texas. 

Since it would appear the Sooners don't have much of a chance to slow down Baylor significantly, the question is whether they can win a shootout. Oklahoma's running game is good enough to cause Baylor issues.

Damien Williams and Brennan Clay have rushed for a combined 950 yards. The duo offers a nice balance between speed and power, but Oklahoma's passing game leaves a little to be desired. 

Led by junior Blake Bell, the Sooners are averaging 31 points per game, but there are no indications that Oklahoma can keep pace with Baylor if its defense doesn't impede the Bears significantly. Bell has had just one game this season in which he has passed for more than 300 yards. He is a game manager and the Sooners defense isn't good enough for Oklahoma to win with a QB who can't make his presence felt with his arm.

Will the Bears blow away the Sooners in the same fashion that they have dispatched the likes of West Virginia (72-35) and Iowa State (71-7)? No, but the Bears will still win impressively on Saturday.

Were this game being played in Norman, Okla., the outcome may be different, but with the Bears playing at home, they won't be defeated by an Oklahoma team that doesn't boast a dominant defense or a quarterback who can put up big numbers through the air.