Texas Bowl 2010: Illinois vs. Baylor—A Complete Viewer's Guide

This year’s edition of the Texas Bowl features the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Baylor Bears. Both teams had disappointing finishes to their once impressive seasons and have stumbled into their matchup on December 29th.

The time off will be good for these two teams. Illinois’ last game was December 3rd, and Baylor hasn’t played football since November 20th.

Whether you are a fan of the Fighting Illini, the Bears or just like college football in general, this guide will be everything you need to know to get ready for this showdown between the Big Ten and the Big 12.

Game Information

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 10: A general exterior view of Reliant Stadium taken before the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Houston Texans on September 10, 2006 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

When: December 29th, 2010

Where: Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

Time: 5 PM CST

Channel: ESPN

Projected Payout: $612,500

Spread: Baylor -1

Ron Zook

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CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 02: Head coach Ron Zook of the Illinois Fighting Illini watches as his team takes on the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Illinois 24-13. (Photo by Jonathan Dani

The Zooker has taken the Fighting Illini to only their second bowl game in his six years as head coach. The first time around the USC Trojans didn’t play too nicely with Illinois en route to their 49-17 shellacking in the 2008 Rose Bowl.

The Illini are looking to not only avenge that loss, but every loss he has had during his tenure as head coach as well.

A win in this year’s Texas Bowl would be a step in the right direction for a program that has been without any direction. Not to mention Illinois has not won a bowl game since 1999.

The fire under Zook’s seat has warmed up a bit (not surprising) after the team lost three of its final four games of the season. This year’s Texas Bowl will be his umpteenth chance to give the Illinois program stability and give Illini fans something to cheer about.

Art Briles

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COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Art Briles of the Baylor Bears watches from the sidelines during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on November 7, 2009 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Imag

Briles is in his third season at Baylor, leading the Bears to a 15-21 record through his first three seasons. His first two years ended with 4-8 records.

His third season was much more promising with his team jumping out to a 7-2 record and being ranked in the Top 25 for the first time since 1993. Oh yeah, and he has lead the Bears to their first bowl game since 1994.

Similar to Ron Zook’s first three seasons, in which he led the Fighting Illini to the Rose Bowl behind the stellar play of a sophomore dual-threat quarterback Juice Williams and powerhouse running back Rashard Mendenhall, Briles has relied on the emergence of sophomore signal caller Robert Griffin III and senior running back Jay Finley in leading Baylor to a bowl game in his third season at the controls.

Illinois Season Recap

Illinois                                 

@ Missouri – L                     

Southern Illinois – W             

Northern Illinois – W              

Ohio State – L                      

@ Penn State – W               

@ Michigan State – L           

Indiana – W                         

Purdue – W                         

@ Michigan – L                    

Minnesota – L                      

@ Northwestern – W            

@ Fresno State – L                  

Record: 6-6 (4-4)                 

Home: 4-2      

Away: 1-3     

Neutral: 1-1

Baylor Season Recap

Baylor

Sam Houston State – W

Buffalo – W

@ TCU – L

@ Rice – W

Kansas – W

@ Texas Tech – L

@ Colorado – W

Kansas State – W

@ Texas – W

@ Oklahoma State – L

Texas A&M – L

Oklahoma – L            

Record: 7-5 (4-4)

Home: 4-2      

Away: 3-3

Neutral: 0-1

Illinois’ Batman and Robin on Offense

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 02: Nathan Scheelhaase #2 and Jarred Fayson #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrate Scheelhaases' touchdown against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Il

Batman: Mikel LeShoure—1,513 Rushing Yards, 14 TDs

Robin: Nathan Scheelhaase—1,583 Passing Yards, 17 TDs; 815 Rushing Yards, Four TDs

Baylor’s Batman and Robin on Defense

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AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 8: Quarterback Robert Griffin #10 of the Baylor Bears runs the ball during the game against the Texas Longhorns on November 8, 2008 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Texas won 45-21. (Photo by Brian Bahr/G

Batman: Robert Griffin III—3,195 Passing Yards, 21 TDs; 591 Rushing Yards, Eight TDs

Robin: Jay Finley—1,155 Rushing Yards, 11 TDs

Illinois’ Defensive Standouts

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ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 06: Martez Wilson #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates a first quarter interception with teammates while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory

Martez Wilson: 105 Tackles, 10.5 Tackles for Loss, Four Sacks

Corey Liuget: 58 Tackles, 10 Tackles for Loss, 3.5 Sacks

Baylor’s Defensive Standouts

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WACO, TX - NOVEMBER 14: Wide receiver Jordan Shipley #8 of the Texas Longhorns carries the ball against safety Byron Landor #14 of the Baylor Bears in the first half on November 14, 2009 at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas. The Longhorns beat the Bear

Byron Landor: 115 Tackles, One Interception, One Forced Fumble

Tevin Elliot: 35 Tackles, Nine Tackles for Loss, Five Sacks

Special Teams Comparison

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CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 02: Anthony Santella #87 of the Illinois Fighting Illini punts the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Illinois 24-13. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Ge

Illinois

Kicker: Derek Dimke—21 of 26 Field Goals Made

Punter: Anthony Santella—45.2 Yards Per Punt; Long of 67 Yards

Baylor

Kicker: Aaron Jones—19 of 26 Field Goals Made

Punter: Derek Epperson—44.2 Yards Per Punt; Long of 65 Yards

Illinois Will Win If...

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 20: Darius Millines #15 of the Illinois Fighting Illini jumps on teammate Mikel Leshoure #5 after Leshoure scored his first touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during a game played at Wrigley Field on November 20, 2010 in Chicag

On offense: Nathan Scheelhaase can be an efficient passer and keep the Baylor defense honest so that Mikel LeShoure and the rushing offense can do what they do best.

On defense: Martez Wilson and the rest of the Fighting Illini defense can keep Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III and Baylor’s explosive offense in check.

Baylor Will Win If...

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

WACO, TX - OCTOBER 04: Quarterback Robert Griffin #10 of the Baylor Bears drops back to pass against the Oklahoma Sooners at Floyd Casey Stadium on October 4, 2008 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

On offense: Robert Griffin III and Jay Finley can consistently run the ball so Griffin can go over the top with long passes to Kendall Wright.

On defense: The Baylor defense can contain LeShoure and put pressure on Scheelhaase to make life easier for the Baylor secondary.