College Football Pick Baylor at Texas 10-9-10

Baylor Bears (4-1) vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-2)

Saturday, October 9, 2010 12:00PM EST

Line: Texas Tech -2.5

Here are two teams with excellent offenses, but with one holding a better defensive crew. The Baylor Bears have only allowed opponents to score an average of 14.8 points this season. They are also averaging 289.8 passing yards per game, twentieth in the nation. Baylor must survive Taylor Potts and Texas Tech’s air assault. Potts has already thrown for 1,187 passing yards for 12 touchdowns this season, while holding a clean quarterback rating of 137.12. The underdog, Baylor will need to look at this senior and his prime target, Lyle Leong.

Keys to the Game:

-          Lyle Leong is one of the Raiders’ best go-to-guys. The receiver is coming off a sizzling game; catching nine receptions for 125 yards and three touchdowns. He’s been targeted the most in this offense by Potts, catching 29 balls for nine touchdowns this season.

-          This Baylor team is led by Robert Griffin III, a sophomore quarterback with a sensational campaign this year. Griffin has passed for 1,351 yards and eleven touchdowns. He’s coming off a beastly win against Kansas last week, going 26 for 36 for 380 passing yards and three touchdowns. He’s also has had a good time scrambling the football, running for 221 yards for four touchdowns. After their loss to TCU in week three, Griffin has helped the team win their last two games.

-          Texas Tech will be at home in this game, but don’t expect Baylor to be rattled after the first few minutes of this one. They will catch on to their passing game because their defense is terribly underrated. It doesn’t mean they’ll be able to stop everything though; Red Raiders’ quarterback Taylor Potts has been deadly this season.

This matchup could go back-and-forth scoring-wise, if the defenses get out of hand. Expect Griffin, and his leading receivers, Josh Gordon and Terrance Williams to help put Baylor in the scoreboard for most of this one. Texas Tech will look to continue their trademark passing game, as they are ranked tenth in the nation with 301 yards per game this season.

Free Pick: Texas Tech -3.5