Baylor vs. Washington: The 7 Best Matchups of the 2011 Alamo Bowl

On December 29, 2011, the 9-3 Baylor Bears face off against the 7-5 Washington Huskies in the Alamo Bowl. There are some huge clashes on both sides of the ball that you will not want to miss.

One huge storyline for this game will be Heisman winner Robert Griffin III, Baylor's junior QB out of Copperas Cove, Texas. His dual-threat ability makes him one of the top candidates for a high pick in the up and coming 2012 NFL draft if he decides to submit his name for consideration.

Both squads played it huge, as Baylor finished third in a tough Big 12 while Washington concluded its season fourth in the conference and third in the Pac-12 North. 

The Alamo City holds one of the best bowl games of the season in this clash of unlikely foes. We take a look at the top seven matchups between Baylor and Washington as game day creeps closer. 

Kendall Wright vs. Sean Parker

Kendall Wright

The senior WR out of Pittsburg, Texas has really made a huge impact on this Baylor squad. Leading the team in not only receptions but also all-purpose yards, Wright is one of the biggest gears in this powerful Baylor offense. With over 1500 receiving and 13 TD catches, No. 1 is a playmaker that won't be shut down easily.

Sean Parker

Also No. 1, Parker is a dangerous defensive back. He leads the team in interceptions with four and has the second-most tackles for the Huskies with 41 solo and 35 assisted. He has faced off all year against top-notch receivers and will continue that trend in this season's Alamo Bowl.

Edge: Baylor 

Joy and Lady vs. Harry the Husky

So, this may have nothing to do with football, but if two, not just one, bears faced off with one kindly named Husky, I'm pretty sure we all know who would win.

Baylor University keeps two live bears on campus in their somewhat new, state-of-the-art bear habitat. Judge Joy Reynolds and Judge Sue Sloan, known as Joy and Lady, respectively, are American Black Bears.

Harry the Husky is quite obviously a husky. Huskies are way cool, but where they succeed in dog-slegging, they lack in fighting ability.

Harry would have trouble against one bear, let alone two.

Edge: Baylor 

Baylor Defensive Line vs. Washington Offensive Line

Baylor Defensive Line

The Bears' defensive front is anchored by senior NT Nicolas Jean-Baptiste and senior DT Tracy Robertson. Combined, these two big boys have 9.5 sacks, 14 TFL and 54 tackles overall. Both destined to play football on Sundays, they are scary to face from a offensive lineman's viewpoint. 

Washington Offensive Line

Led by two veterans, senior OT Senio Kelemete and junior C Drew Schaefer, the Huskies' O-Line is a powerful asset to a strong offense. They have faced dangerous defensive fronts all season, as they took on USC, Oregon, and Nebraska.

Giving up 34 sacks on the season, Baylor will provide another huge test, and if they can come through, Washington may be looking at a win.

Edge: Baylor 

Robert Griffin III vs. Washington Secondary

Robert Griffin III 

RG3 has put Baylor on the map. With a fantastic season concluded by winning the Heisman Trophy, Griffin III has done anything and everything to help his team succeed. Stealing third place in a tough Big 12 was huge, and his career is looking extremely bright.

Griffin is officially one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. Completing over 70 percent of his passes for just under 4,000 yards and 36 TDs with only six interceptions is just plain unreal. Of all the people you don't want to be matching up against as a DB, he has to be pretty high on the list.

Try No. 1. 

Washington Secondary

The Huskies defensive backs are anchored around sophomore safety Sean Parker and junior CB Desmond Trufant. The two combined for six interceptions and 137 tackles on the year, ranking Nos. 2 and 4 on the team tackle totals for the season. Both are quick and will provide ample coverage on Baylor's best receivers. 

Edge: Baylor

Art Briles vs. Steve Sarkisian

Art Briles

The head coach of Baylor has been in this business for years now. Already in his second college head coaching job at BU, Briles also led Houston from 2003-2007. Since then, he's dramatically improved a struggling Baylor program, holding a solid record of 24-25 in a tough Big 12. Going 0-4 in bowls all-time, this is Briles' shot to grab his first postseason victory. 

Steve Sarkisian

The Huskies took a shot on head coach Steve Sarkisian, giving the QB-oriented instructor his first top job in their program. Mentoring quarterbacks in both the NFL and college, Sarkisian has finally gotten his shot in the big leagues. Only in his third season, he's 19-18 overall and 1-0 in bowl games. Still trying to prove himself to the Pac-12, Sarkisian will be all in on this big-time postseason matchup.

Edge: Washington 

Chris Polk vs. Terrance Ganaway

Chris Polk

The junior out of Redlands, CA, has been a constant threat to opponents all year. Gaining over 1,300 yards on 263 carries for 11 TDs, Polk is dangerous. His running ability masks just how good a receiver he really is, allowing him to make 300 yards on 29 receptions for four TDs.

Terrance Ganaway

No. 24 has complemented his superstar QB quite well this season. A senior from De Kalb, TX, Ganaway has carried 229 times this year for 1,347 yards and 16 TDs. Also a dual threat as a receiver, he caught six receptions for 52 yards and one TD. His experience and skill make him easily one of the best in the Big 12.

Edge: Baylor

Robert Griffin III vs. Keith Price

Robert Griffin III

RG3 is the man to have on your side. His talent and potential is excessive, giving a team that usually finishes last in the Big 12 all the way up at third with big wins over Oklahoma and Texas.

This superstar junior QB passed for just under 4,000 yards, 36 TDs and had a 72.4 completion percentage. A huge 192.3 QB rating and only six interceptions, Griffin has been the man this season. His dual-threat ability allowed him to grab nine TDs on the ground, along with 644 yards on 161 carries. 

Keith Price

Starting for the first time this season, the sophomore from Compton, CA, has really impressed. Throwing for 2,625 yards, 29 TDs and only 11 interceptions, Price completed just under 70 percent of his passes and owned a QB rating of 157.9. Extremely similar to Terrelle Pryor's stats from last season, this future superstar is the next big thing in Seattle. 

He should really show up in this huge bowl game on a national stage, but will have a tough time out-shining the Heisman winner. Placing third in a tough Pac-12 North, Price is a great asset to coach Sarkisian and Washington and will be so for the next few years. 

Edge: Baylor