Season Predictions for 2007 Football - Baylor

A quick disclaimer to any Bear fans that might stumble across this prediction: I'm a casual observer of Big XII teams and a fan of Texas Tech first and foremost. You probably know a lot more about your team than I do, so take this prediction for what it's worth: entertainment and a way to pass the time between now and the start of Fall Camp. With that said, on with the predictions:

Hottest Position Battle: QB - With Shawn Bell's departure due to graduation, the only thing hotter than an August day in Waco will be the battle for the job as Starting QB. The job will come down to either Blake Szymanski, who started the final 3 games of the season for the Bears due to an injury to Bell, or to Michael Machen, who elected to transfer to Baylor from Kent State for his final season of eligibility. Cabron Guey predicts Machen to get the nod from the coaching staff when it's all said and done.

SEASON PREDICTIONS

at TCU - TOSSUP - Losses of key personnel at several positions on both the Offense and the Defense, including the QB position, due to graduation and the NFL draft will leave TCU with a dearth of depth that might prove unable to match up with the dizzying assortments of routes the Bears plan to run. This one will be close, so don't forget to tune into CSTV for the game.

vs Rice - WIN - Rice pays a visit to its old Southwest Conference foe in a game that shows how much better off Baylor is for having joined the Big XII Conference.

Texas State - WIN - TSU is no pushover Division I-AA... excuse me... NCAA Championship Subdivision team. However, the difference in talent levels between a Division I-A and Division I-AA team will show in the 2nd half as Baylor pulls away for the win.

at Buffalo - WIN - AT BUFFALO? Who in their right mind schedules a game at the home of one of the worst teams in college football? Baylor, of course, if they want a return game in Waco. The Bears will prove to be too much for the Bulls in what is shaping up so far to be a pretty good season for Baylor.

at Texas A&M - LOSS - Here we go... now things get interesting. You can never rule out Baylor in the Battle on the Brazos, but the Aggies will not be overlooking the Bears as in previous years. Expect the Aggie ground game to chew up the clock, never allowing the Bears' Air Game to get into rhythm.

vs Colorado - WIN - Things haven't quite come together for the Buffaloes in Dan Hawkins' second year at the helm. Colorado may give a scare to one or two of the bigger programs, but it'll probably lose in Waco today.

at Kansas - TOSSUP - This is a Must Win for Baylor as things are only going to get harder from here on out. Should Baylor beat TCU in the opener, this game will be a battle to make Baylor a bowl-eligible. This one will come down to how well Kansas can execute its game plan and don't give up the victory when it is in hand, something the Jayhawks have been known to do in the past.

vs Texas - LOSS - Texas comes to town as one of the hotter teams in the nation. Baylor will be nothing more than a speed bump on their way to a possible BCS game.

at Kansas State - LOSS - October may prove to be a disasterous month for the Bears in the State of Kansas if they don't take care of business at KU two weeks before they face the Wildcats.

vs Texas Tech - LOSS - The Bears' luck doesn't change yet, even though the Texas Tech game is the most winnable contest between their bouts with Texas and Oklahoma. The stakes will be high should Baylor come into this game with only 4 wins, as they would probably need to beat Tech and OSU to advance to the post-season.

at Oklahoma - LOSS - In their last trip to play Oklahoma as the away team, the Bears almost pulled off the upset on the Sooners. This one may be close for a quarter or two, but the Sooners will pull away in the end.

vs Oklahoma State - WIN - If you had to mark down a loss for Okie Lite in 2007 that doesn't make sense, this game will be it. Baylor gets a nice win to end the regular season with a record anywhere from 5-7 to 7-5.