Texas Tech vs. Baylor: Score, Grades and Analysis

The Baylor Bears kept their national title aspirations alive Saturday with a 63-34 win over Big 12 adversary Texas Tech.

Baylor's Heisman candidate Bryce Petty shredded the Red Raiders defense on 17-of-31 passing for 335 yards and three touchdowns. He did further damage with his legs via nine carries for 10 yards and two scores.

Petty had help from a pair of freshman running backs in Shock Linwood and Devin Chafin. The duo combined for 284 yards and three scores as the Bears racked up 673 total yards in the rout.

ESPN put Baylor's staggering offense into perspective:

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Texas Tech Red Raiders	20	7	7	0	34
No. 5 Baylor Bears	21	14	21	7	63

Texas Tech started things off in a big way on the game's opening drive. The Red Raiders utilized some well-designed trickery, and running back Kenny Williams threw a touchdown pass to Jace Amaro to take an early lead:

Tech was far from done. Baylor gave the ball back on a punt with almost 10 minutes remaining in the quarter. Quarterback Baker Mayfield found Amaro in the end zone on a deadly-accurate pass after eight plays to give the Red Raiders a 14-0 advantage with about seven minutes remaining in the first.

Facing a big deficit, Baylor was able to pull closer with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Petty to Levi Norwood. That made it 14-7 as Petty and Co. were forced to make up for a horrific defensive effort:

The positive momentum didn't last long—not shocking considering the poor play from the Baylor defense.

Tech and Mayfield again drove down the field on eight plays. The end result was a touchdown pass from Mayfield (his second) to Eric Ward at the 3:25 mark in the first. That made it only 20-7, as Ryan Bustin followed up with a whiff on the extra point.

As ESPN points out, not the best start for the Baylor defense:

Things settled down—but only briefly. A Baylor punt was followed by one from Tech. The result was an electric Norwood return for a touchdown to bring us to 20-14—still in the first quarter.

Still with us? Mayfield then committed his first mistake of the game with an interception at the 1:29 mark. Then Petty and the Bears took the lead as he found Antwan Goodley in the end zone for a quick score to make it 21-20—still in the first quarter!

Believe it or not, the first quarter did end. After a lull in the action, a Mayfield fumble at the 9:19 mark of the second was recovered by Baylor. Devin Chafin then found the end zone to give the Bears a 28-20 advantage:

Mayfield would later respond with his third touchdown of the day with 4:28 left in the half. This time the recipient was Jakeem Grant, which made it a one-point game. Of course, Mayfield's defense once again didn't do him any favors.

Petty and Co. needed a little over a minute to respond. The Heisman candidate found his favorite target to make it 35-27:

The third quarter was all Baylor. The Bears added 21 points in the frame. Petty took it in for the score himself with 12:33 left to make it 42-27. Chafin later exploded for his second score of the game on what was the best scamper of the contest—this time from 47 yards out:

Mayfield rudely interrupted the rout with a touchdown pass (his fourth) to Reginald Davis with 2:45 left in the frame to make it 49-34.

Petty was not amused and took it in himself once more to extend the lead to 56-34 with time winding down in the third.

Linwood then decided to get in on the scoring action via a 10-yard scamper. His score came with 7:30 left in regulation and put the Bears at a 63-34 advantage—a lead they would hold the rest of the way.

Key Player Grades

Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor Bears: A

We could debate all night whether or not Bryce Petty is this good or simply a product of the system.

Instead, let's focus on his 17-of-31 day for 335 yards and three scores. Oh, and his nine rushes for 10 yards and two scores.

Petty is a very serious Heisman contender at this point. This type of performance was expected. Petty delivered in a big way and has his team in the national title hunt. What's not to like?

Baker Mayfield, QB, Texas Tech Red Raiders: B

A colossal day from the freshman quarterback was ruined by his defense. 

Mayfield had a quality outing in defeat that's hard to discredit. He threw for 314 yards and four scores with one interception.

Heck, one could argue Mayfield even had a fifth touchdown pass robbed from him by his running back. Alas, Mayfield put together an epic performance that was simply not enough.

Levi Norwood, WR, Baylor Bears: A+

Wow.

Many names have posted major performances for the Bears this season. Saturday it was junior receiver Levi Norwood's turn.

Norwood had himself a monster day with seven catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns. His production was not just limited to being Petty's favorite target—Norwood also racked up 65 yards on four punt returns and scored a touchdown.

Shock Linwood and Devin Chafin, RBs, Baylor Bears: A+

What a day for freshman running backs.

Shock Linwood and Devin Chafin came up huge for the Bears. Linwood amassed 184 yards and a score on 29 carries with a sound 6.3 average.

Chafin did the dirty work when it came to reaching the end zone. He scored two times on 11 carries and totaled 100 yards on the ground in the process.

What's Next?

Texas Tech moves to 7-4 and just .500 in the Big 12. Things don't get any easier on the Red Raiders with a date against No. 24 Texas to close out the season. 

Baylor's major victory keeps the record pristine. The Bears remain in the championship hunt with three games to go. It's no cakewalk for the Bears, though. Two of their last three games come against opponents currently ranked in the Top 25.

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