Baylor at Rice

While we have not seen the same explosiveness of the Baylor offense the first two weeks, don't sell them short yet. The problem is comparing them to the last several seasons they've scored points in the 60s and 70s. This is a very balanced offense, one that averages 275 yards on the gound and 240 in the air. The problem that it creates for Rice is the fact that the Owls opened vs. a passing team in Western Kentucky, and they torched them for 552 yards in the air. They then played a running team in Army, and the Cadets ran for 348 yards on them. Now they face a team that passes as well as Western Kentucky and runs as well as Army, or better. Rice could not stop a one-dimensional offense in their first two games, knowing exactly what was coming. They now face a team that runs like their last opponent, and passes like their first. I see this as a breakout game for the Baylor offense, and 60 points seems very much in reach. The Owls have not managed to do a lot offensively, but they are likely to get some points, and even more likely to score in the fourth quarter when this game appears like it will be well out of reach. Bailiff has a career mark of 63-49 to the OVER at Rice, including 9-1 to the OVER when he trailed his previous two games by 14 or more at the half. Rice is also 34-14 to the OVER after two straight losses in the last 25 years, and Baylor is now 32-16 to the OVER in their last 48 after a pair of games gaining 450+ yards. This one goes OVER the total.