BAYLOR +8 (Saturday) - This game has already been bet rather heavily, as California opened up at ?10. I still like this Baylor side as long as it is at +7 or more. The bottom line here is that California is probably not 8 points better than any Division I team in the country! The Golden Bears were a pathetic 1-10 S/U last season, and they did not win a single game here at home, going 0-6. In fact, they did not record their only win until the final game of the season vs. an equally pathetic Rutgers team. To give you an idea of just how bad Rutgers was, Cal was favored by 11.5 points despite entering the game 0-10! Furthermore, to show just how bad the Bears were, they STILL couldn?t cover in a 20-10 win. Given all of this, is it such a good thing that California returns 15 starters? Baylor was just 3-8 last season, but in their defense, they do play in the very tough Big Twelve Conference. While Baylor may have been the doormat of that conference, they were actually very competitive when they ventured out of conference. In fact, they were a perfect 3-0 S/U in non-conference play and an ?imperfect? 0-8 inside the conference! This Baylor defense could surprise some folks this season. especially with the return of defensive end A. C. Collier, one of the Big Twelve?s premier pass rushers. I just see no reason for California to be such a relatively lofty favorite in here, as I give Baylor an excellent chance to win this game on the field.
Baylor/California - 8/31/02
- Thread starter Eugene Michaels
- Start date
"Baylor was just 3-8 last season, but in their defense, they do play in the very tough Big Twelve Conference. While Baylor may have been the doormat of that conference, they were actually very competitive when they ventured out of conference."
3-0 v Arkie St., New Mexico & So. Ill --all at home!-- is no big venture. Baylor stayed within DD on the road only once ly v. a vastly overrated A&M team. I also dont believe the Big 12 is all that strong. Of the 12 teams, 6 arent competitive (KU, KSU, MU, TT, BU & OSU). And the better teams feed off the weak ones. Add North Texas & New Mexico since every strong Big 12 team schedules these guys!
Cal played Illinois & BYU non-conf before they played Rutgers on the road to finish an ugly season. That win seems quite impressive compared to BU's 3 win season. What scares me off Cal is the new coach, which to me makes the 15 returning starters a moot point since they are all starting over anyway.
No way I play Cal here, but I wouldn't play Baylor on the road -- except v. Arkie St., New Mexico, or So. Ill. of course!
3-0 v Arkie St., New Mexico & So. Ill --all at home!-- is no big venture. Baylor stayed within DD on the road only once ly v. a vastly overrated A&M team. I also dont believe the Big 12 is all that strong. Of the 12 teams, 6 arent competitive (KU, KSU, MU, TT, BU & OSU). And the better teams feed off the weak ones. Add North Texas & New Mexico since every strong Big 12 team schedules these guys!
Cal played Illinois & BYU non-conf before they played Rutgers on the road to finish an ugly season. That win seems quite impressive compared to BU's 3 win season. What scares me off Cal is the new coach, which to me makes the 15 returning starters a moot point since they are all starting over anyway.
No way I play Cal here, but I wouldn't play Baylor on the road -- except v. Arkie St., New Mexico, or So. Ill. of course!
