Big 12: Baylor or Texas?

There are two undefeated teams in the Big 12: Baylor and Texas.  Both these teams currently sharing the top spot in the Big 12 causes one to ask a lot of questions.  For example, which team has the best chances at making to the end of the season undefeated.  Another example would be which team has the best chance of getting a “1” marked in their loss column first.  Here are a number of factors that must be considered when answering these types of questions:

Injuries 

If you look at the headlines for Baylor you do not see much in the way of injuries.  That is because Baylor has not suffered any notable losses due to injuries this season.

Texas, on the other hand, have been going through a very high-profile loss of David Ash.  Who suffered a concussion that was said to be so severe that he did not even attend the Ole Miss game on September 14 because his doctors advised him to stay away from loud noises and bright lights.  He further aggravated his injury when he suited up and played the next week against Kansas State.  Now it appears he may be out for the season.

Case McCoy has done an incredible job filling in for Ash.  However, the media attention on Ash’s concussion and the general scrutiny being placed on football at the moment as it pertains to brain injuries is taking the team’s focus away from football.  Also, Ash had a deep ball threat that McCoy does not have, which could also negatively affect the Longhorns down the road.

Schedule 

Both Baylor and Texas have some rough seas to contend with ahead.  However, Baylor enters the storm before Texas, which means Baylor could have a loss on its record before the Longhorns.

On Thursday November 7, Baylor takes on Oklahoma who sit at 4-1.  The next week they have to take on Texas Tech (4-1).  Meanwhile, the Longhorns have to contend with the less threatening West Virginia, who sits at 1-4.  However, after that the Longhorns have to take on Texas Tech and and Oklahoma State (3-1).  Both these teams have tough games ahead, Baylor gets to theirs first.  Time will only tell whether or not both these teams will make it through these games unscathed.

The Odds 

Bovada has eight teams listed as the teams most likely to not only make to the BCS Championship game but also win it all.  Texas does not appear on that list.  Baylor does appear with 16/1 odds at winning the BCS Championship.  Out of all the teams in the NCAA, they have the fifth best odds at taking the championship.

December 7

In the last game of the season Baylor and Texas will collide.  Assuming both these teams make it through their tough schedules undefeated, then this game could decide which teams will end up in a major Bowl game or even the BCS Championship.